Noviembre 12, 2004
More on Autonomies
Brilliant propaganda has vaulted the elite Cruceño leaders as the voice of an entire region. Forget about their own elected representatives from the major political parties. Forget that Santa Cruz even had one of its own as a recent President (Hugo Banzer Suarez). They never shoulder the blame for a corrupt and unresponsive centralist system.
Race plays a huge part in the longstanding conflict involving the regional autonomies. For the most part, leaders like Zvonko Matkovic and Ruben Costas are European descendants, who hold no real ethnic ties to Bolivia. In a country, where it is often shameful to be perceived as member of an indigenous class, and so many young Bolivians want to be Americans or Westernized, it is more convenient to try to identify themselves with the whiter, upperclass components of Bolivian society, thus gaining more support (this does not happen only in Santa Cruz).
Having Evo Morales oppose their strategy doesn't hurt either. Equating anyone who isn't with the strike, as a member of MAS or associated with these leftist groups, works in the same way as opposition to the Gas Referendum. When the unpopular Jaime Solares and Felipe Quispe called for a boycott and violence towards voters, the pro-Referendum supporters had an easier time to mark a contrast.
Driving a wedge down the middle and dividing the country into two halves plays right into their master plan. The "pais trabajador" and the "pais bloqueador" are phrases they frequently use to contrast entire regions. But as we have seen in the last day, the "pais trabajador" has now become the "pais bloqueador" and "pais de huelga" and the "pais de medidas de presion".
As a whole, regional autonomies will be a great thing for Bolivia. Local governments have a better idea of what problems plague their communities. They can be more responsive and accountable to their constituents, because there can be closer scrutiny. However, in the manner in which the Cruceño "leaders" are portraying their claim, they are only concerned about themselves and how power can be consolidated for their benefit.
Calling a Referendum asking Bolivians (or do they only want this Referendum for Santa Cruz?) is not that simple. It is a very complex process to decentralize the many parts of governments. Thousands of new local jobs will be created in order to provide important social, health, and education services. However, in a country in a consistent state of deficit and until the gas is extracted and exported, the economy will still be in crisis mode. Where will the funds for these new levels of government come from?
As new bureaucracy is created in the different Departments, so does new opportunities for corruption. At each level of government, where the jobs are distributed to unqualified and inept party supporters in the form of "pegas", the ruling party gets more opportunities to strengthen its power and opens up new ways to benefit from public monies. Unless, a real public sector reform takes place, the new autonomies will create mini-versions of the inefficient and corrupt national centralism government that many say is hurtful.
Will the concept of Departments (there are 9 in Bolivia) still exist? How will the rural communities fit into this new system? New forms of checks and balances, including judicial and legislative, may need to be created. Again, how and from what money will this be accomplished?
These are the types of things that would need to be discussed, debated, and pondered in a Constituent Assembly (and not in a rapidly put-together Referendum ballot). A simple "yes" or "no" Referendum vote is too easy. The propaganda makes it seem so. So not everyone who opposes Sr. Costas, Sr. Matkovic and the other elite leaders, is for the outdated and broken centralist government; however, these "leaders" sure make it seem like they are.
Posted by eduardo at Noviembre 12, 2004 03:09 PM
Comments
What ever happened with all those surveys I was reading about last week. They all suggested there was no support for the so called Autonomy movement in Sta. Cruz. According to the surveys, the indigenous population in the entire oriente boliviano were in fact against autonomy.
Who did these people ask those questions? Was it in Sta. Cruz? Was the strike so threatening?
I don't understand! Help pleaaaaase. :-)
Posted by: MB at Noviembre 14, 2004 04:30 PM
It's hard to say..like I said before no one is against autonomies (except for the traditional oligarchs), but many are against the way that the nontraditional oligarchs are going about their business.
My guess is that the indigenous groups are supporting the efforts, because they'll be closer to their goal of increased autonomies.
Posted by: eduardo at Noviembre 16, 2004 05:40 PM