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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Bolivians 'back new constitution' | Bolivians 'back new constitution' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Bolivian President Evo Morales has claimed victory in a referendum on a new constitution aimed at improving conditions for the indigenous majority. | Bolivian President Evo Morales has claimed victory in a referendum on a new constitution aimed at improving conditions for the indigenous majority. |
| Addressing supporters outside the presidential palace, he said the result marked the birth of a new Bolivia. | |
| Exit polls for some TV stations put the yes vote at about 60%. | Exit polls for some TV stations put the yes vote at about 60%. |
| The new constitution gives autonomy to indigenous peoples and boosts state control of the economy, but is opposed by many of the traditional elite. | The new constitution gives autonomy to indigenous peoples and boosts state control of the economy, but is opposed by many of the traditional elite. |
| Many mixed-race people in the fertile eastern lowlands rejected the charter and four of Bolivia's nine provinces had a majority no vote, according to the exit polls. | Many mixed-race people in the fertile eastern lowlands rejected the charter and four of Bolivia's nine provinces had a majority no vote, according to the exit polls. |
| Conservative leaders in one district accused President Morales of planning to impose a totalitarian regime, but he was undeterred. | Conservative leaders in one district accused President Morales of planning to impose a totalitarian regime, but he was undeterred. |
| Despite the yes vote, there is likely to be continued opposition to the constitution as it goes through parliament, says the BBC's Candace Piette in La Paz. | Despite the yes vote, there is likely to be continued opposition to the constitution as it goes through parliament, says the BBC's Candace Piette in La Paz. |
| 'New era' | 'New era' |
| "Brothers and sisters, the colonial state ends here," President Morales, an Aymara Indian, told crowds in front of the presidential palace in La Paz after results emerged. | |
| "Now Bolivia is being re-founded!" he said. | |
| "Here we begin to reach true equality for all Bolivians." Evo Morales is Bolivia's first indigenous president | |
| The Bolivian leader has followed his closest allies, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Ecuador's Rafael Correa, in rewriting their countries' constitutions to extend their rule, tackle inequalities and exert greater control over natural resources, observers say. | The Bolivian leader has followed his closest allies, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Ecuador's Rafael Correa, in rewriting their countries' constitutions to extend their rule, tackle inequalities and exert greater control over natural resources, observers say. |
| Support for Mr Morales was highest in the western highlands where Indians are a majority. | Support for Mr Morales was highest in the western highlands where Indians are a majority. |
| "Now is starting a new era in which indigenous people will be the citizens of this country. I think this is the most important part of this constitution," said Elisa Canqui, who represents one of the Indian communities in La Paz. | "Now is starting a new era in which indigenous people will be the citizens of this country. I think this is the most important part of this constitution," said Elisa Canqui, who represents one of the Indian communities in La Paz. |
| Opponents | Opponents |
| Many Bolivians of European or mixed-race descent strongly oppose the constitution, but the head of an international monitoring team, Raul Lagos, said voting had been largely peaceful. | Many Bolivians of European or mixed-race descent strongly oppose the constitution, but the head of an international monitoring team, Raul Lagos, said voting had been largely peaceful. |
| 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 original draft of the constitution was more radical but Mr Morales made concessions after violent protests against his rule, including a promise that he would not try to win a third term in 2014. | The original draft of the constitution was more radical but Mr Morales made concessions after violent protests against his rule, including a promise that he would not try to win a third term in 2014. |
| Under pressure from wealthy ranchers, who feared their farms would be broken up and handed over to the poor, Mr Morales also revised the charter so that limits on land holdings will only apply to future land sales. | Under pressure from wealthy ranchers, who feared their farms would be broken up and handed over to the poor, Mr Morales also revised the charter so that limits on land holdings will only apply to future land sales. |
| Final results are expected in about 10 days. | |
| 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. |