Bolivian Province Votes for Autonomy

Joe Mathews — Mon, 05 May 2008 04:21:00 -0400

Today voters in the Bolivian province of Santa Cruz overwhelmingly approved a measure providing for financial and security autonomy for the province. The country's president Evo Morales questioned the legality of the referendum and claimed that the measure had "failed." The conduct of Morales and his government fueled the referendum; the president has sought to nationalize industries in Santa Cruz as part of his goal of making the economy socialist. Morales called for talks with Santa Cruz and other provinces that are contemplating similar autonomy votes.

From Our Foreign Bureaus: A Referendum With an Invitation List

Joe Mathews — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:22:00 -0400

BURMESE MAY 10 REFERENDUM HAS AN INVITATION LIST: This video is a news report from Singapore, where citizens of Myanmar are lining up to vote at the country's embassy there. But it's not enough to be a Burmese citizen. This constitutional referendum offered by Myanmar's military junta is such a sham that it has an invitation list! And many of the Burmese lined up to vote -- and interviewed for this report -- aren't on it.

BOLIVIAN PRESSURE: The Bolivia government has frozen funds to a province before the region votes May 4 on whether it wants "autonomy" from the central government, according to press reports. Other reports suggest that the referendum could lead to civil war.

NEW ZEALAND REFERENDUM ON "ANTI-SMACKING": New Zealand lawmakers passed legislation last year to outlaw the smacking of children, even by their parents, for almost any reason. A referendum to reverse the law appears to have enough signatures. Sponsors are calling on the Parliament to repeal the law without a popular vote.

BERLIN AIRLIFT AIRPORT: The airport that was the site of the Berlin Airlift is slated to close after the defeat of a referendum designed to save it. Supporters vow to fight on.