Racial, regional rivalries threaten to tear Bolivia apart

Bolivia Troubling fissures have appeared in Bolivia’s politics that make some fear the nation may be headed for a nasty breakup.

In recent months, there have been several showdowns between residents of the eastern lowlands and President Evo Morales, the nation’s first indigenous president since the Spanish conquest. Morales aims to redistribute the nation’s wealth from the east to the western provinces inhabited by the nation’s indigenous majority.

Just this month, thousands of residents of Santa Cruz, Bolivia’s wealthiest eastern city, seized Bolivia’s busiest airport from soldiers sent by Morales. Airport workers, who had demanded the cargo handling fees that are paid monthly to the national airport authority, had threatened to block flights, which precipitated Morales’ sending in troops. Santa Cruz Gov. Ruben Costas called on residents to retake the airport and thousands responded, waving green-and-white Santa Cruz flags.

Also this month, O Globo, one of Brazil’s largest newspapers quoted an anonymous Santa Cruz state official bragging that a 12,000-strong anti-Morales militia was hidden in the jungle, awaiting the right time to strike against the government.

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Racial, regional rivalries threaten to tear Bolivia apart
SFGate.com