Bolivian president shuffles cabinet

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It's amazing how hard it is to find out what is happening in
Bolivia in the English press ...

LA PAZ, Bolivia -- President Carlos Mesa shuffled his cabinet on Thursday in the wake of massive street protests calling for regional autonomy and objecting to a planned increase in the price of fuel oil.

All 15 ministers had submitted their resignations to allow Mesa to reorganize the government, and the president reappointed seven of them, including the key ministers of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Defense and Treasury. They were sworn in Thursday.

An autonomy drive by Santa Cruz, the nation's richest province, had earlier forced Mesa to grant concessions clearing the way for provinces to elect their own governors, who are now appointed by the president.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

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1. Bolivia's political schism widens

RENO--(Mineweb.com) As Bolivia's President replaced eight Cabinet Ministers and the state of Santa Cruz begin to push for autonomy, fears have been raised that democratic reforms within the country may be in serious trouble.

President Carlos Mensa, who it is feared may not make it to the end of his presidency, recently accepted the resignations of eight of his 15 ministers. He also split the mining and hydrocarbons ministry, creating a 16th ministry.

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These actions came in the aftermath of two-week protests last month, which blocked major roadways in the cities of Santa Cruz and El Alto. The protests were mostly staged by indigenous peoples, who have aligned with labor unions to secure more political clout. Their politics is considered by experts to be anti-private and anti-foreign investment.

It is feared that civic protests are likely to increase, particularly as the business leaders of the Santa Cruz fight to protect the mines, natural gas, and farming which they control in the east. In the western Andean region, the indigenous minority, who are mostly impoverished, are pushing the national government to strengthen state control over natural gas resources.

MineWeb