Gas-rich Bolivian province readies autonomy referendum

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

TARIJA, Bolivia (AFP) — Gas-rich Tarija on Sunday becomes the fourth province to vote for an autonomy measure which threatens to split Bolivia into rich and poor halves and which President Evo Morales has called illegal and separatist.

With only 400,000 inhabitants, but holding 85 percent of the country's natural gas that brings in 13 percent of its gross domestic product, Tarija is expected to vote yes for autonomy, joining the ranks of three other provinces Morales has branded "rebels."

For the safety of some 173,000 voters, police and reinforcements have fanned out across the province, which was mostly calm on Saturday, except for some unrest in the eastern towns of Yacuiba and Bermejo where anti-plebiscite sentiments prevail.

A bomb exploded Saturday...