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Journalism of Courage
Securing more than 60 per cent of the popular vote Evo Morales is well set to challenge the ultra right-wing opposition entrenched in the country8217;s eastern provinces. Although most of the opposition prefects will remain8230; leaving the country divided, as before, between east and west and between white settlers and Indians, Morales8217; gamble in holding the re-call referendum appears to have paid off. He has reinforced his democratic credentials and can claim a popular mandate for his revolutionary socialist reforms.
The opposition groups, some of them overtly fascist and white-racist in their ideology, will have some difficulty in pursuing their aim of autonomy for their eastern provinces, the geographic location of the country8217;s wealth-creating oil and gas industries. Unlike other would-be separatist regions of the world South Ossetia to name but one topical example, the separatist provinces of Santa Cruz, Beni, and Tariacute;ja have no friendly regime across the frontier8230; Yet the threat of disaffection and subversion still remains, one that affects not just Bolivia but the other countries in Latin America that are experiencing the current great historic rebellion of the indigenous peoples against white settler rule. The white settlers have been in power for so long, and have been so accustomed to their political and cultural domination, that, although a minority, they will not abandon the scene without a struggle. The Indians, too, tasting power for the first time in 500 years, have shown at the ballot box that they recognise the historic opportunity available to them.
Excerpted from a comment by Richard Gott in 8216;The Guardian8217;
