On 9 September 2008 opposition groups from Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando and Tarija provinces stormed public offices and blocked roads to demand that President Evo Morales abandon a plan to hold a referendum on a new constitution. Protesters also want their regions to receive a greater share of state energy revenues. Protesters took control of a gas plant in the southern city of Villamontes, located approximately 560 mi/900 km southeast of La Paz in the Chaco area, but exports to Brazil and Argentina were not affected. In Santa Cruz, anti-government groups trying to take over a tax-collecting agency clashed with military police. In Tarija, protesters occupied an office belonging to the superintendent of hydrocarbons. In the province of Beni, the opposition occupied state telephone company offices and an airport. In some places, roadblocks have persisted for 17 days, causing fuel shortages. The opposition has threatened to shut off gas export routes to Brazil and Argentina.

ASI comment: The political climate in Bolivia is currently unstable. The political battle between President Evo Morales and the opposition has caused major disruptions throughout Bolivia and Morales’ unwillingness to give in to the opposition’s demands is likely to exacerbate the situation. Morales is insisting that the country hold a referendum to approve the new constitution and elect local authorities despite opposition by the National Electoral Court (CNE) and the opposition. The court had annulled an earlier Morales decree calling for the referendum, arguing that the power to do so rests with Congress rather than with the president. However, Morales sought approval from Congress to change the date of the referendum from 7 December to 25 January 2009. Furthermore, the government has called on its supporters to hold counter-demonstrations on 16 September against the opposition roadblocks that have been going on for 17 days.