MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Bolivia prepares for observers-packed referendum

The Organization of American States, OAS, will send 65 observers from 16 different countries to the constitutional reform referendum programmed for January 25th in Bolivia, reported the head of the OAS mission Raul Lago.

"The prestige of the OAS designated observers is a guarantee and brings additional securities to the whole electoral process", said Lago, adding that in collaboration with Bolivia's Electoral Court "we are convinced the referendum will evolve with the greatest certainties and transparency possible". The OAS observers will be one of nine numerous foreign delegations sent to monitor the referendum on the controversial constitutional amendments which has split Bolivia between the oil and agriculture rich provinces dominated by the descendents of the Spanish conquest and the poor regions mostly indigenous that have seen in President Evo Morales their redeemer. The discussions on the reforms fuelled a powerful autonomous movement among the rich provinces which led to violent rioting, killings and sabotage of the country's gas exports to neighbouring Argentina and Brazil. A precarious truce was brokered by Mercosur and the referendum should take place peacefully. Mercosur, Unasur, the Carter Centre, the Andean Community of Nations and the parliaments from Central America, European Union and the Andean nations are also sending observers for the January vote. In related news it was announced that Bolivia made the first shipment of textiles to Venezuela, (50 tons valued 1.2 million US dollars), which were originally intended for the United States. The Bush administration ended special tariff benefits for Bolivian textiles when the government of President Morales closed the DEA office alleging they were involved in local politics. He later expelled the US ambassador Philip Goldberg. Venezuela, Brazil and Iran have promised to purchase the 46 million US dollars in textiles Bolivia shipped annually to the US. The Bolivian government also announced that it had agreed to purchase six Czech built aircrafts, L-159 to help control air traffic and patrol the country's strategic resources. The whole operation with flight simulators and instructors involves 60 million USD. "These airplanes are ideal for controlling illegal small aircraft linked to the drugs business", said Defence minister Walker San Miguel. Bolivia traditionally has been supplied and equipped with air material from the US.