SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia: Bolivian President Evo Morales and governors who led a violent rebellion against his socialist reforms agreed on Tuesday on a road map to end a week-long crisis in the impoverished South American country.
The governors pledged to end occupations of government buildings, after a wave of violent protests left 17 dead last week, and Morales said he would discuss their demands for more autonomy and a greater share of state energy revenue.
Five governors from the relatively wealthy eastern side of the country agreed to talks even though one was arrested by the army earlier on Tuesday after the leftist Morales accused him of massacring 15 peasant farmers last week.
“If we want to return calm to the regions, let’s sign this document. The government did it, the governors must too. Not signing means violence, confrontation, aggression and a greater divide between Bolivians,” Vice President Alvaro Garcia said.
An unstable landlocked country at the heart of the South American continent, Bolivia is split between backers of Morales’ plans to give land to the poor and overhaul the constitution, and a minority who say he is turning the country into another Cuba.
Morales is friendly with former Cuban President Fidel Castro and socialist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. - Reuters |
