Developments on the Road to 'Division Day'

The rhetoric and acts of political polarization have continued to escalate in Bolivia in the last 24 hours, with new developments coming rapidly from across the country. Observers from all manner or organizations and press outlets have decended on Santa Cruz to witness what may or may not be the opening act of a Bolivian meltdown tomorrow. Here is a synopsis view of Bolivia on the road to 'Division Day'.

Santa Cruz Set to Declare its "Autonomy" Saturday

Yesterday the "Provisional Autonomous Assembly" of Santa Cruz, a body assembled by civic leaders there, issued the statutes upon which it intends to unilaterally declare its autonomy from the national government on Saturday. Among its 155 articles are declarations that, effective Saturday: residents of the department will now be issued separate Santa Cruz identity cards; the department will form its own police force and no longer recognize the authority of the national police; and Santa Cruz department authorities will now control all issues concerning land reform. The statutes will be presented symbolically before a public gathering in Santa Cruz Saturday.

Evo Warns Against Attacks on the Police and Army in Santa Cruz

In a declaration Friday, President Morales warned that his government will not tolerate the division of the country or any of the threatened attacks against Bolivian police or soldiers in Santa Cruz. He did not make clear what steps he was prepared to take to prevent such attacks, or to block implementation of Santa Cruz's autonomy plans. On CNN he also blamed the U.S. Embassy here for "coordinating actions" aimed at destabilizing his government.

Indigenous Groups in Santa Cruz Plan Counter Protest

The Confederation of Indigenous Peoples of Bolivia (CIDOB) has announced that it will be organizing a counter protest in Santa Cruz Saturday to counter the rally by the Civic Committee there when it presents its new autonomy plan. "We are not going to obey [the Santa Cruz autonomy statutes] because it isn’t a law, a statute or a Constitution," the group's Vice-President, Pero Nuni, declared. "It is just a pamphlet that they [Santa Cruz civic leaders] have made."

MAS Opponents Set Fire to Jeep Carrying Documents

In Sucre yesterday, opposition groups to the government intercepted and set fire to a Jeep sent to recover files from the Constituent Assembly's headquarters there and carry them to La Paz.

Civil Society Leaders Call for Dialog

A voice calling for dialog between Bolivia's warring factions emerged yesterday from a group of respected civil society leaders from all major regions of the country. The group included the Defensor del Pueblo, Waldo Albarracín, his respected predecessor in the post, Ana María Romero de Campero, along with a variety of labor groups, journalist associations, religious leaders, and literary and arts figures. "The mechanism of dialog is the door that will allow us to leave behind confrontation and is the tale that will permit everyone to meet to reach solutions for all. This is a first call that we are sure has the support of the silent majority" said Albarracín.

US Embassy Issues Travel Warning

The U.S. Embassy in La Paz took the unusual step Wednesday of issuing a warning against travel to Bolivia: "The Department recommends that U.S. citizens defer non-essential travel to Bolivia at this time. U.S. Embassy La Paz is restricting the official travel of U.S. Government employees to Bolivia during this period. Since protests and demonstrations can break out with little or no notice, U.S. citizens in Bolivia should monitor local media sources for the latest developments. U.S. citizens should avoid demonstrations at all times and exercise caution."

Santa Claus to Bolivians: The Naughty List is Getting Bigger

In a news release issued from the North Pole, Santa Claus issued a warning to al of Bolivia's rival factions that he and his elves are monitoring the situation close and are able to make modifications in the naughty list up to the last minute before his Christmas Eve departure. "While Mr. Claus has no official position on the articles of Bolivia's proposed Constitution, he cautions all involved to use the coming holiday season to mellow out," noted the release. "And he is also not amused by the letter from Santa Cruz Civic Committee head, Branko Marinkovic, asking for a fresh supply of Uzis and ammunitions [see photo above]."

What to Watch for Over the Weekend

1. Will the 'autonomistas' in Santa Cruz try to seize offices of national government agencies?

2. Will there be confrontation between the two rival public gatherings in Santa Cruz?

3. Will the Morales government mobilize either the national police or the Bolivian army in reaction to any events in Santa Cruz Saturday?

4. Will the call for dialog, issued by national civil society leaders, get any traction and lead to the arrangement of a meeting between Morales and leaders from the eastern departments?

For ongoing updates on developments in Bolivia I encourage readers to visit Radio Erbol, which offers both written and broadcast reports on its web site. I think their reporting is independent, solid and balanced.