Confrontations Leave 20
Injured in Bolivia's
Referendum
At least 20 people were
injured on Sunday during
confrontations between
sympathizers of Bolivian
President Evo Morales
and his opposers that
are currently holding an
autonomous referendum in
Bolivia's eastern Santa
Cruz department.
The violence occurred
between Morales'
sympathizers, of the
Movement For Socialism
(MAS), and autonomist
rightwing groups,
including of the
rightwing Santa Cruz
Youth Union (UJC).
In Santa Cruz de la
Sierra, the department's
capital, a clash between
officials and opposers
left eight people
injured, including one
that suffered head
injuries.
Government spokesman
Ivan Canelas said Santa
Cruz's popular
consultation was
tarnished with violence
by radical rightwing
autonomist groups.
Santa Cruz department on
Sunday started at 8:00
a.m. local time(13:00
GMT) the popular
consultation of the
Autonomous Statute,
headed by the
department's governor
and the Civic Front, but
it was rejected by the
central government, the
National Electoral Court
and Bolivias Armed
Forces. |
