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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Bolivians vote on Indian rights | Bolivians vote on Indian rights |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Bolivia have voted in a referendum on a new constitution that President Evo Morales says will empower the country's indigenous majority. | Bolivia have voted in a referendum on a new constitution that President Evo Morales says will empower the country's indigenous majority. |
| The changes also include strengthening state control of Bolivia's natural resources, and no longer recognising Catholicism as the official religion. | The changes also include strengthening state control of Bolivia's natural resources, and no longer recognising Catholicism as the official religion. |
| Early TV exit poll results suggested the constitution would be approved. | |
| Mr Morales, an Aymara Indian, has pursued political reform but has met fierce resistance from some sectors. | Mr Morales, an Aymara Indian, has pursued political reform but has met fierce resistance from some sectors. |
| Opponents concentrated in Bolivia's eastern provinces, which hold rich gas deposits, argue that the new constitution would create two classes of citizenship - putting indigenous people ahead of others. | Opponents concentrated in Bolivia's eastern provinces, which hold rich gas deposits, argue that the new constitution would create two classes of citizenship - putting indigenous people ahead of others. |
| The wrangling has spilled over into, at times, deadly violence. | The wrangling has spilled over into, at times, deadly violence. |
| At least 30 peasant farmers were ambushed and killed on their way home from a pro-government rally in a northern region in September. | At least 30 peasant farmers were ambushed and killed on their way home from a pro-government rally in a northern region in September. |
| President Morales has said the new constitution will pave the way for correcting the historic inequalities of Bolivian society, where the economic elite is largely of European descent. | President Morales has said the new constitution will pave the way for correcting the historic inequalities of Bolivian society, where the economic elite is largely of European descent. |
| The new constitution will give the indigenous community a chance to have a greater say in what happens to their country's natural resources. | The new constitution will give the indigenous community a chance to have a greater say in what happens to their country's natural resources. |
| Crucial concessions | Crucial concessions |
| Exit polls conducted by Bolivian TV networks suggested some 60% of voters had backed the constitution. | |
| But another, private, poll of actual votes cast put the margin somewhat closer, at 50.5% yes to 49.5% no, the Associated Press reported. Those votes did not include rural areas, which are strongly pro-Morales. | |
| Bolivia's Congress approved the referendum in October but only after Mr Morales agreed to make a number of concessions. | Bolivia's Congress approved the referendum in October but only after Mr Morales agreed to make a number of concessions. |
| Evo Morales has been trying to reform Bolivia's since being electedCrucially, this included an agreement by Mr Morales to seek only one more five-year term. If re-elected, he would have to leave office in 2014. | |
| The new constitution also includes a bill of rights, including a chapter dedicated to Bolivia's 36 indigenous peoples. | The new constitution also includes a bill of rights, including a chapter dedicated to Bolivia's 36 indigenous peoples. |
| It increases state control over the economy, limits the size of big land holdings and redistributes revenues from the important gas fields in the east to poorer parts of the nation. | It increases state control over the economy, limits the size of big land holdings and redistributes revenues from the important gas fields in the east to poorer parts of the nation. |
| Indigenous people would be granted autonomy over their traditional lands and a "priority" share of the revenue from natural resources. But many of the areas where natural resources are found are governed by the opposition and would also be granted greater autonomy. | Indigenous people would be granted autonomy over their traditional lands and a "priority" share of the revenue from natural resources. But many of the areas where natural resources are found are governed by the opposition and would also be granted greater autonomy. |
| Analysts say it remains unclear how some of the constitution's articles can be reconciled. | Analysts say it remains unclear how some of the constitution's articles can be reconciled. |
| So although a Yes vote is widely expected, there is likely to be continued opposition to the constitution as it goes through parliament, says the BBC's Candace Piette in La Paz. | So although a Yes vote is widely expected, there is likely to be continued opposition to the constitution as it goes through parliament, says the BBC's Candace Piette in La Paz. |
| The referendum will be followed by elections for president, vice-president and Congress in December. | The referendum will be followed by elections for president, vice-president and Congress in December. |