[R-G] Bolivian lawmakers OK Constitutional reforms

[Anthony Fenton]

Bolivian lawmakers OK Chavez-like reforms
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g0o7IMscsdUAc97d6_-_1WEfNUvw

ORURO, Bolivia (AFP) — Bolivian lawmakers Sunday approved a  
controversial overhaul of their constitution that, if passed by  
referendum, will give leftwing President Evo Morales sweeping new  
powers and bolster the rights of the indigenous majority.

A constituent assembly stacked with Morales supporters and sitting in  
the Andean town of Oruro -- a pro-Morales stronghold -- backed the  
408 reforms amid a boycott by the main opposition party.

"It is a source of great happiness for me and for all the popular  
movement, the peasants' and workers' movement," Morales said.

The run-up to the vote was bloody, with at least three killed in  
clashes between protesters and police two weeks ago.

Six wealthy provinces held massive strikes as opponents feared the  
reforms would usher in a leftist regime similar to the one Morales's  
friend and ally, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, is struggling to  
establish.

"The text of the new constitution is approved," a representative of  
the socialist MAS party, Carlos Romero, told AFP. The approval came  
after a marathon 15-hour session and with the backing of allied minor  
parties.

The new constitution would give Morales more power, including over  
natural resources following his nationalization of Bolivia's oil and  
gas industry last year.

The congress would be collapsed to a single chamber, and the flag  
would be changed to an indigenous motif.

It would also give indigenous peoples greater control of the lands  
they are living on and install a raft of socialist changes.

The text approved Sunday did not, however, specify whether the  
president could be re-elected indefinitely, as had been proposed  
earlier.

Instead, he could seek election in the next six months for what would  
be considered his first term under the new constitution, if passed.  
He could then go on to seek another term, which would theoretically  
given him another 10 years in power.

A referendum will now have to be called to allow voters to decide on  
the measures.

Though Morales is confident of having his project adopted, similar  
hubris by Chavez was proven wrong when he suffered a stinging defeat  
a week ago trying to pass similar constitutional reforms in Venezuela  
by plebiscite.

A total of 153 of Bolivia's current 255 lawmakers voted on the  
overhaul of the basic law.

The opposition claims that violated a requirement that two-thirds of  
the assembly vote in favor in order for the changes to be adopted.

"This is a judicial aberration," one center-right opposition  
politician, Ricardo Pol, said.

Morales had threatened to call snap elections if the constituent  
assembly did not OK the reforms.

He also claimed in a television interview that the street opposition  
to his project was "headed by the US Embassy."

The president says the social reforms are needed to redistribute  
wealth from the rich lowland provinces to their poorer highland  
neighbors.

But opposition governors affirm their South American country is  
headed toward dictatorship, with Chavez providing help, an have  
pledged to incite civil disobedience.

An angry mob of 200 people, some with signs reading "Enough  
interference!", recently threw rocks at a Venezuelan military plane  
refueling at an airport in northeastern Bolivia, according to a  
report by the Catholic news agency Erbol.

The aircraft, which left for an an unknown destination, was rumored  
to be carrying weapons, though there was no confirmation of that.