Bolivia puts army on alert - report |
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Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:22
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LA PAZ (Thomson Financial) - Bolivia put its armed forces on alert today, ahead of a threatened move towards autonomy by half the country's provinces, Defense Minister Walker San Miguel said, according to the daily La Prensa.The soldiers have been ordered to be ready to protect public and private property although police retain responsibility for ensuring security, La Prensa cited San Miguel as saying.President Evo Morales' socialist government fears demonstrators may try to take over public offices in Santa Cruz, the country's economic capital and a bastion of opposition.Four of Bolivia's nine provinces -- Santa Cruz, Tarija, Beni and Pando -- have announced they will declare autonomy on Saturday.They object to Morales' moves to overhaul the constitution to boost presidential powers, increase the rights of the indigenous majority and redistribute wealth from their low-lying richer areas to the poorer heights of the Andes.La Prensa said 400 extra police have been sent to Santa Cruz, a city with a population of 1.5 mln.'However we have not mobilized a military detachment in the city of Santa Cruz,' San Miguel said. 'We are remaining very attentive and concerned by what is happening in the country.'The minister dismissed any suggestion that Santa Cruz would be put under 'siege' by the government forces, and accused its leaders of being 'paranoid'.Bolivia's richer regions already declared a form of moderate autonomy a year ago, though relations with the federal government remained unchanged.tf.TFN-Europe_newsdesk@thomson.comafp/cmrCOPYRIGHTCopyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.
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US wants better relations with Bolivia 