[progchat_action] Amid deadly turmoil, Bolivia approves new draft constitution
 
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2007 00:42:37 -0600 (CST)

Amid deadly turmoil, Bolivia approves new draft constitution

AFP
November 24, 2007

Sucre, Bolivia  - A pro-government majority of Bolivia's constituent
assembly approved a new draft constitution for the Andean nation Saturday,
with the opposition boycotting and violent protests on the streets.

The assembly, called by leftist President Evo Morales to rewrite the
constitution to better address the needs of the country's majority poor,
approved the new text on a preliminary basis, though it will be considered
article-by-article at a later date, the chairwoman of the assembly, Silvia
Lazarte, said without specifying that date.

One demonstrator was killed and three other people were injured earlier as
opponents of the new political charter clashed with police outside. Attorney
Gonzalo Duran died of a bullet wound to the neck, doctor Mario Carvajal told
local media.

Sucre was also hit by violent demonstrations Friday and Saturday, as the
some 150 pro-government delegates did their work inside a military academy.

Opposition lawmakers boycotted the assembly and earlier called it illegal;
the pro-government side however sang the national anthem as they wrapped up
their work.

Conservative ex-president Jorge Quiroga, leader of the Podemos Party,
charged it was a "constitution drafted in a barracks, written with rifles
and bayonets, and stained with the blood" of locals.

Many Sucre residents are upset with the government because they want the
legislative and executive branches to be moved out of La Paz and to Sucre.

The pro-government assembly delegates are rushing to meet a December 14
deadline to get the new constitution in place. They have a majority in the
constituent assembly but not a big enough one in the country's legislature
to push the document through without a major political fight.

Morales, majority-indigenous Bolivia's first indigenous president, in May
2006 nationalized oil and gas interests in foreign hands. He says he wants a
new constitution to favor social change including taking back control of
natural resources administration for the state.

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