The referendum to decide the autonomy of the Bolivian department of Tarija (south) from the government of President Evo Morales began Sunday at 8 a.m. local time, according to information reaching here from La Paz, administrative capital of Bolivia.
The referendum was done without major incidents, and it was more pacific in comparison with the three made in Beni, Pando and Santa Cruz.
More than 173,000 citizens of Tarija were summoned to participate in the approbation of the autonomy statute, which Morales consider it illegal and separatists.
Tarija's authorities, supported by businessmen groups, are opposed to the economic policy of Morales and to the constitutional changes with socialist ideas, and they are seeking their autonomy by a popular consult, like Santa Cruz, Pando and Beni did.
Tarija has 391,226 inhabitants, and has 85 percent of the Bolivian gas reserves, which are the second most important in South America.
The referendum was declared illegal by the Electoral National Court (CNE), because it was not summoned by the Congress of the republic.
However, the Departmental Court (DC) said that the process is viable, not respecting what the CNE had said.
Source:Xinhua
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