BOLIVIAN IT UP

After years of political wrangling and fierce opposition from the resource-rich breakaway provinces of the East, Bolivians finally passed a new constitution last Sunday (25th). The process had pitted President Evo Morales and his party, MAS (Movimiento a Socialismo - movement towards socialism), against autonomist movements keen to cling onto their wealth, a dispute that spilled over into violence which saw over 30 Morales supporters murdered (see SchNEWS 647).

The document enshrines the rights of the indigenous majority and gives indigenous municipalities a bigger say in the governing of their lands and the management of natural resources. It has also officially separated church from state with Catholicism no longer the official religion. Water, health care and telephone access have been declared human rights, and new purchases of land in the nation will be regulated by the government and limited to 5,000 or 10,000 hectares.

The compromises made in the negotiation process have received some criticism from social movements. Of especial concern is the replacement of the clause that stated that public services and natural resources would be administered by public or community entities. The final text now allows this to be done by ‘mixed companies’ – public/private partnerships.

Nevertheless it’s still a big step up from the original 200 year old Spanish colonial constitution which didn’t even recognise the existence of an indigenous population...