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01/22/2005:

"Bolivian Province Wants Independence"

LA PAZ, Bolivia (Reuters) - Protesters in Bolivia's wealthy Santa Cruz province stepped up their pressure on President Carlos Mesa on Friday by announcing plans to set up their own separatist government and break ties with the capital, La Paz.

About 30,000 protesters, waving the green and white provincial flag, marched to the main square of Santa Cruz, the regional capital, chanting ``autonomy, autonomy!'' and ``Mesa out!''

...The leader, backed by Washington for his backing in the anti-drug campaign in the Andean countries, scrambled to rally support in Congress to prevent the fragile democracy from crumbling.

Lawmakers agreed on Friday to mediate between Mesa and the opposition, sending a committee to Santa Cruz to start talks.

But analysts fear more upheaval is inevitable in South America's poorest nation, where a small minority own the riches of natural gas, mining and farming and where most in the indigenous majority scrape by on less than $2 a day.

Full Article: nytimes.com/reuters