Violence Breaks Out Amid Bolivian Province Autonomy Vote

Violence Breaks Out Amid Bolivian Province Autonomy Vote

SANTA CRUZ (AFP)--Violent scenes broke out in poor areas in the Bolivian province of Santa Cruz Sunday as the territory held an autonomy referendum contested by the government and indigenous Indians, an AFP photographer and local television reported.

In the province's main city of Santa Cruz, mobs of men clashed near a polling station in the southern neighborhood of Plan 3000, which is mostly populated with indigenous residents.

One man was seen motionless on the ground as another beat him, and several other people were seen throwing rocks at polling station workers.

The AFP photographer said he saw three people injured and an unsuccessful attempt to storm a polling station protected by other residents.

In the town of Santa Juliana, 140 kilometers (90 miles) north of Santa Cruz city, an angry crowd of indigenous Indians destroyed an outdoor polling station and chased off its workers, local television showed.

There were fears the province's referendum seeking greater autonomy from the leftwing government of President Evo Morales could ignite widespread violence.

Indigenous Indians who support Morales and make up 60% of Bolivia's population are backing the government's view that the poll is illegal, and many have vowed to oppose it by whatever means necessary.

In relatively wealthy Santa Cruz, however, the Indians are a minority.

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