EL UNIVERSAL

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez Sunday declared that Bolivia would not be "divided" through a referendum on the autonomy of central Santa Cruz state. 

Chávez made reference to Bolivia's situation during his weekly TV and radio show "Aló Presidente". The Venezuelan ruler even contacted a reporter of Caracas-based multi-state television channel Telesur who was covering the vote, AP informed.

"We highly regret violence…Who are the people responsible for these violent actions? The same occurred in Venezuela: The culprits were the oligarchic and fascist groups," he said after Telesur reported violent clashes in some places in Santa Cruz.

The Venezuelan ruler branded the low turnout, as pointed out by the reporter, as a "good sign." "These attacks from our countries' desperate oligarchies help strengthen our peoples' awareness," he stated.

Furthermore, he highlighted that "US organizations have openly funded autonomist movements, or rather separatist movements." "We are certain that Bolivians will smash the plan to shatter Bolivia to pieces."

"Striking Bolivia amounts to striking both South America and all the regional unity efforts that are under way, such as the Union of South American Nations (Unasur), as well as the project of Bolivian President (Evo) Morales," Chávez said. "In Venezuela, we have said that Bolivians are resisting and will keep resisting this aggression."

Meanwhile, the chair of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Cilia Flores branded the vote held in Bolivia as an illegal move and a "boisterous failure."

Bolivia's richest region of Santa Cruz went ahead with a vote on greater autonomy from the central government on Sunday, but Morales declared the referendum illegal.

Translated by Karina Gómez P.