Autonomic Statutes recognizes the National State and its laws

It is being established in Bolivia the first Autonomic Statute that acknowledges the State and its laws, as an alternative to Evo Morales constitution project.

The new norm will create an autonomous department government, with responsibilities on basic services, land, justice, security, as part of Bolivia, the State Constitution and national standards.

"Santa Cruz becomes an Autonomous Department, as an expression of historical identity, democratic and autonomous believes, and in exercise of their right to departmental autonomy, strengthening the unity of the Republic of Bolivia, and the bonds of brotherhood among all Bolivians", that says the first article of the Autonomic Statute approved yesterday in a historic meeting at the Prefectural Palace; at the foot of Bolivar, Sucre, Andres Ibanez, the Virgin of Cotoca and about 500 strikers who expect, between feelings of fear and challenge that anytime the government of Evo Morales could decreed a State of Siege.

The Autonomic Statute came after three town meetings and the disruption of the constitutional order by the National Constituent Assembly, which did not respect the citizens vote for departmental autonomy expressed in the referendum of July 2, 2006 and which produced a State Constitution without consensus, said the Prefect of the department, Ruben Costas.

The statute has 155 articles and makes the Prefect a Governor and his current Council a Departmental Legislative Assembly, with powers on basic services, land, public security, justice, electoral system, administrative control, while recognizing the existence of national laws.

The document prepared by the advisory team of the Prefecture, headed by the lawyer Juan Carlos Urenda, bases each article with know-how from legislation of Spain where there are autonomous governments, or Federal States as Brazil and intermediate countries like Italy, which without breaking the national legal order, created self governments in different regions of their countries.

It was released for consideration by representatives of the Provisional Autonomic Assembly made up of some 120 people, all elected officials, including congressmen, presidents of Municipal Councils, Departmental Directors, constituents and representatives of four indigenous groups.

"They have given us the right and duty to take our destiny, because of the irregularities and the mortal blow to democracy and the breakdown of the constitutional order," said the Prefect Ruben Costas at the opening day, before the representatives adopted unanimously the bases for the Statute.

The chairman of the City Council, Oscar Vargas, the chairman of the Departmental Council, Juan Carlos Parada and the chairman of the Provisional Autonomic Assembly, Carlos Pablo Klinsky came to the main square to show the Statute and sing Santa Cruz anthem. Shortly after they began to review it in detail, phase that was completed this morning. At 22.30 some people began distributing masks and the Youth Union Cruceñista made a fence around the Assembly on rumors of a State of Siege.

HERE COMES THE REFERENDUM

The first step is the approval of the Autonomic Statute, the second is the collection of 70 thousand signatures equal to 8 percent of the voters registration list for Santa Cruz to give the Prefect of the Department, Ruben Costas, the mandate to call a referendum. Advisers, Juan Carlos Urenda and Javier Hage, explained that they are not breaking the legal system because the State Constitution provides that the people deliberates and governs through their representatives, the Constituent Assembly and the referendum. Also part of the Referendum Act passed during the government of Carlos Mesa empowers the elected Prefect to convene a Referendum in his department, jumping the National Congress, as a regional consultation that can not be sued for unlawful.

POINT OF VIEW

"Before we lacked courage and bravery," said Carlos Valverde B., Founder of the Youth Union, "This should have been done long ago, in my time we did not have the courage to do so. I am now very pleased that we are autonomous, it is the law that give us the cabildos andReferendum. It means that at last we can determine our own destiny, that never again they will take away our resourses, such as the IDH (Oil Tax). All taxes will stay in the department, so that never again we will live under a remote control. N now we will determine our own destiny and if they want to attack us there is a people who expects armed even with sticks or hot water"