by the El Reportero’s news services
Nicanor Duarte
On 22 June preliminary results showed that around 80 percent of voters backed the vote on autonomy in Tarija.
Home to 85 percent of Bolivia’s natural gas reserves, Tarija is the fourth and final department to hold a vote on autonomy. The support for autonomy is not a surprise. Final results are scheduled to be released on 25 June, but two TV channels, ATB and Unitel put the “yes” vote at between 79 percent and 80 percent and the “no” vote at between 19.7 percent and 21 percent.
The TV channels reckoned that abstention at 34.8 percent, was the lowest registered in the four departments that have held autonomy referendums. The other three departments to hold referendums were Santa Cruz, Beni and Pando.
Together with Tarija, these departments form the Media Luna bloc.
Paraguay President resigns
Asuncion, Jun 23 Paraguayan President Nicanor Duarte resigned to run for the Senate.
In his last message to the nation as head of state he reminded that Paraguay surmounted years of stagnation to achieve economic stability and sustained growth (6.8 points in 2007).
Exports also rose 193 per cent in 2007 above its neighbors, not just with soy, meat, software, plastic items, all products with value added.
Duarte admitted to trouble in land distribution and mentioned $150 million investments on urban landless, admitting to failure to meet housing demands as well.
President elect Fernando Lugo will assume offi ce August 15.
The Paraguayan Congress will discuss the resignation Tuesday but several legislators’ decision not to attend may lead to poor quorum.
Government Colorado Party Legislator Candido Aguilera said that if the resignation is rejected they will try next week again.
‘Parapolítica’ purge bill is killed as Uribe gears up for new term
On 10 June an adverse vote in the senate’s fi rst committee buried the government’s ‘political reform’ bill, which despite its grandiose title was chiefl y designed to purge congress of legislators linked to paramilitary organisations. Already, 32 legislators have been jailed on charges of paramilitary connections, and another 30 are under investigation. Most of these belong to parties that supported the constitutional reform that allowed Uribe’s reelection.
Binational indigenous front meets in oaxaca
SANTIAGO DE JUXT-LAHUACA, OAXACA, MEXICO – The assembly of the Indigenous Front of Binational Organizations in the Mixteca region of Oaxaca, one of the poorest areas in Mexico. A large percentage of the indigenous population of Oaxaca and other states has left to work in northern Mexico and in the United States.
The FIOB is a political organization of indigenous communities and migrants, with chapters in Mexico and the U.S. It advocates for the rights of migrants, and for the right not to migrate for economic development which would enable people to stay home.
Delegates discuss FIOB’s bylaws and political positions, vote to adopt them, and then elect new binational leadership in a democratic and open process. Julio Sandoval, a delegate from Baja California, recounts his experience as a political prisoner in the penitentiary of Ensenaada, where he was held for three years after leading a fight for housing for indigenous migrants. At the end of the assembly, Gaspar Rivera Salgado, newly elected as FIOB’s binational coordinator, addresses the delegates, and a group of Triqui women rise to their feet with a clenched-fist salute.
(Prensa Latina, Latin news contributed to this report.)
