Government seeks to provoke Santa Cruz | Gobierno busca provocar a Santa Cruz

Wilson Aguilar, Los Tiempos:

Analysts see that the Government seeks to provoke Santa Cruz; foresee violence

Santa Cruz citizens in a previous mobilization. | APG

Analysts warn of the possibility that Bolivia will enter a new scenario of violence with the resolution of the Plurinational Constitutional Court (TCP) that removes powers from the Government of Santa Cruz over its reserved areas and makes it easier for the Government to carry out a road structure. They maintain that the ruler once again seeks to politically subjugate the Santa Cruz region, which has become an arena for the defense of democracy.

“In the general framework, the confrontation between Santa Cruz and the State continues. There is a kind of guerrilla and each party uses certain elements to try to maintain its position and the Government is following this style that has been in force for a long time,” says historian and Indianist Pedro Portugal.

The Constitutional Sentence 0076/2023 is known at the time when the Santa Cruz Government defends the Güendá-Urubó aquifers and rejects the construction of the Las Cruces-Buena Vista highway that would affect this sector, in addition to after meetings between the governor and Santa Cruz authorities, at which time it was decided to suspend the start of the work until an international study was completed that defined the feasibility of opening the work, but that it did not affect the aquifers.

The economist and former leader of the Bolivian Workers’ Central (COB) Lucio Gonzáles Alanes maintains that what is happening with the aquifers, despite the fact that Luis Arce’s administration says that the lawsuit against Departmental Law 98 was raised by former vice president Álvaro García Linera, tries to teach the people of Santa Cruz a lesson.

Representative María René Álvarez warned that this TCP ruling, issued on August 8, sets a disastrous precedent against departmental autonomies and leaves protected conservation areas “defenseless.”

“They seek to send a message to the people of Santa Cruz for the unsubmissive and rebellious attitude they have had towards the current government.” she said.

She added that “this is not the first time that the TCP is docile and complies to the letter (without any objection) with what the Government says and that the operator is the Minister of Justice, Iván Lima.”

“In order to affect Santa Cruz, generating an internal conflict in the department of Santa Cruz, does not repair any fact or purpose to punish Santa Cruz. There is an attitude of revenge,” she said.

Colonization and attack

Senator Centa Rek pointed out that the Government is with its centralist policy, which is why it is carrying out its colonization plan.

“Alert, Bolivians. The Government continues, at a firm pace, trying to execute the colonization plan towards eastern Bolivia. We have been demanding and continue to demand the non-construction of section 2 and 3 of the Urubó-Güendá highway because it threatens the water supply of our city,” said Rek.

New relationship with the State   

Before the TCP ruling was known, Fernando Larach, president of the Pro Santa Cruz Civic Committee, announced that on November 13, the anniversary of the 2022 council, a formal proposal will be presented that seeks to review the department’s relationship with the State.

“We designed the shortest, most viable route that already has foundations. Autonomy is the way. “The majority of Santa Cruz believe that autonomy should be the way,” he said.

Court case announced to TCP magistrates

Authorities from the Gabriel René Moreno Autonomous University (Uagrm) announced the defense of the water reserve and carried out judicial proceedings against the magistrates of the Plurinational Constitutional Court (TCP).

The rector of the Uagrm, Vicente Cuellar, explained that the TCP ruling is contrary to the Political Constitution of the State (CPE) because it violates the departmental autonomies that are established by law.

There must be a responsibility trial here. First, for breach of duties by the members of the TCP, at least against those who signed this ruling,” he stated.

Regarding the breach of duties, he pointed out that the TCP had a period of 45 days to issue a ruling, but it took about seven years and when there is an emergency due to the aquifers.

The vice chancellor, Reinerio Vargas, said that, through the inter-institutional coordinator, they will hold an assembly next Wednesday in order to define actions.

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