CARACAS, Monday May 05, 2008 | Update
President Chávez said US agencies are funding separatist movements in Bolivia, and forecast their plans to split up Bolivia are doomed to failure (Photo: Miguel Ángulo / Efe)
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.
04:20 PM. Western Hemisphere. Colombian President Álvaro Uribe said on Tuesday that governments should ensure citizens' rights to live on the border, in reference to a political and diplomatic crisis with Venezuela and its effects on border residents.