Following failed mediation attempts by both national and international
organisations [AR-08-04], the 4 May vote on autonomy went ahead as planned in
the wealthy eastern region of Santa Cruz. With the final results yet to be
announced, preliminary figures showed 85% of voters backed the autonomy statute
- a result which came as little surprise. The vote is not legally binding, but
the mere fact that the autonomists held the referendum in comparative peace and
managed to present a plausible result has strengthened their hand. While
dismissing the vote as a "failure" in the light of high abstention
levels, President Evo Morales has nevertheless left the door open to dialogue
with the autonomists.End of preview - This article contains approximately 1015 words.
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