Bolivia: Between the Magna Carta and secession
Points in favor and against the Bolivian process
By Eduardo Dimas
As I write this article, several news agencies report that Operation Miracle has allowed more than 100,000 low-income Bolivians to regain their vision at no cost, after being operated by Cuban surgeons in ophthalmological hospitals donated by Cuba and Venezuela. It is good news. It is part of the social justice promoted by the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA).
Another bit of news — right now I don't know if it's good or bad — is that 20 of the 21 commissions that compose the Constituent Assembly have turned in their respective reports. That's an important step toward the new Constitution. The reports will now be evaluated by a Coordinating Commission formed by 42 delegates from all political leanings.
Points in favor and against the Bolivian process
By Eduardo Dimas Read Spanish Version
As I write this article, several news agencies report that Operation Miracle has allowed more than 100,000 low-income Bolivians to regain their vision at no cost, after being operated by Cuban surgeons in ophthalmological hospitals donated by Cuba and Venezuela. It is good news. It is part of the social justice promoted by the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA).
Another bit of news — right now I don't know if it's good or bad — is that 20 of the 21 commissions that compose the Constituent Assembly have turned in their respective reports. That's an important step toward the new Constitution. The reports will now be evaluated by a Coordinating Commission formed by 42 delegates from all political leanings.
The right-wing Social Democratic Power (known as Podemos) opposes this solution. The initial accord envisioned the presentation of the new Magna Carta to President Evo Morales in August of this year.
The contradictions that arose in the Assembly among the representatives of various tendencies and parties — especially regarding the way in which the articles should be approved — delayed the start of the commissions' work until June. In reality, it is not clear at this time how the vote will be conducted.
According to some observers, the articles will be approved by an absolute majority, while the Constitution as a whole will be approved by two-thirds of the constituents. In other words, the Bolivian right has a chance to boycott the new Constitution and prevent its approval, because Morales' Movement Toward Socialism and other progressive forces can count on 126 votes. That's more than half of the votes needed, but not quite two-thirds. As things stand now, the constituents must deliver the new Magna Carta to Morales this coming Dec. 14. Will that be possible?
In addition to the news about the strikes staged by miners, teachers and transport workers that are wearing down the Morales administration, there are others that express the enormous historical problems afflicting Bolivia. Such news traditionally surface whenever there is a moment of change. They express (and this is most dangerous) the lack of a national conscience and the fact that ethnic and oligarchic interests are above the interests of the entire country.
Several indigenous social organizations expressed their discontent because the historic claims of the more than 36 Bolivian ethnic groups have not been taken into account by the commissions charged with drafting the new Constitution.
