Bolivians approve draft charter

[IndianaGreen]

Source: BBC News

Bolivians approve draft charter

Last Updated: Sunday, 9 December 2007, 16:25 GMT

A special Bolivian constituent assembly has approved a new draft constitution, despite a boycott by the main opposition party.

Bolivians will now have a chance to vote on the changes in a national referendum next year.

The 164 deputies present, out of the total of 255, took 13 hours to vote on each article of the new constitution.

The new charter would give more autonomy to indigenous people and allow consecutive presidential terms.


Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7135396.stm

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As when Venezuela changed their Constitution, Bolivians are trying to redress the disparity in power that their legal system has preserved in favour of the elites. This is something we might consider for our own country, to break the backs of the ruling class by giving the power to the people.

[Robbien]

1. Isn't this great!

It gives Bolivia's indigenous peoples greater autonomy and control over their traditional lands reversing centuries of discrimination by a corrupt political class dominated by a European-descended elite.

But of course all the papers kept talking about was that this charter was a power grab for and by Morales.

So yay. A win for the majority of Bolivians.

[pingzing58]

2. Good for the indigenous people of Bolivia. Vive la liberte!

[Judi Lynn]

3. This is REALLY good news. Of course the opposition's not going to give up, but they couldn't stop

this, and it's probably driving them nuts.

Look for more violence from them, and a whole lot more hit pieces in our corporate media. As long as the enormous masses of people in South America keep making progress, it's ALL GOOD. It will come at a cost, you can be sure.

_Bush had his minions working that country before the Presidential election, threatening them with retribution if they elected Morales. You absolutely know _Bush won't back away from meddling, sticking his round, gin-blossomed nose into their afairs, not by a long shot.

Sure hope the majority of people of Bolivia have learned well the lessons given them by US violent interference, bullying, and interference since the 1960's, and have made all the necessary adjustments and corrections as they set their course toward a new day.

[ronnie624]

5. As the date of the referendum draws near,

it will be interesting to see how US media report the events in Bolivia.

No doubt, similar changes will be coming to Nicaragua soon as well.

[bemildred]

4. Good .nt

[Judi Lynn]

6. Morales' allies OK new Bolivian constitution

Morales' allies OK new Bolivian constitution
Bolivian President Evo Morales' allies approved a new constitution that would allow presidents to serve two consecutive five-year terms.

Posted on Mon, Dec. 10, 2007
BY PATRICIO CROOKER AND JACK CHANG
McClatchy News Service


LA PAZ, Bolivia -- After 16 tumultuous months of debate, allies of Bolivia's leftist President Evo Morales hurriedly approved nearly all of a new constitution Sunday morning in a marathon overnight session.

The proposed constitution grants more power to Bolivia's indigenous majority; abolishes the opposition-led Senate; imposes more state control over natural gas, minerals and other natural resources; and permits presidents to be elected to two consecutive five-year terms, a proposal that Morales' opponents call an authoritarian power grab.

An earlier version of the document had allowed indefinite consecutive presidential reelection.

Bolivian voters must approve the constitution in a referendum that's tentatively scheduled for as late as next September. The assembly, which met in the mining town of Oruro, failed to approve one article by the required two-thirds vote. That measure, which limits the size of private land holdings, will be the subject of a separate referendum.

More:
http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/338690.html