Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LAPAZ105
2009-01-25 18:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
BOLIVIA: CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM SITREP #2 1400
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UNCLAS LA PAZ 000105
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC KDEM BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA: CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM SITREP #2 1400
EST
January 25, 2008
SITUATION REPORT: This is the second of three situation
reports planned today.
UNCLAS LA PAZ 000105
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC KDEM BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA: CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM SITREP #2 1400
EST
January 25, 2008
SITUATION REPORT: This is the second of three situation
reports planned today.
1. (U) Radio Erbol is reporting that as of noon over 40
percent of urban registered voters and over 60 percent of
rural registered voters have voted. (Note: Voting is
mandatory in Bolivia. Registered voters who do not vote are
removed from the voter rolls and must re-apply. The National
Electoral Court has announced fines of up to USD 30 for
registered voters who do not vote. The Court also announced
fines for other voting law infractions such as drinking,
taking drugs, or campaigning on the day of the election. End
note.)
2. (U) There are scattered reports of face-offs at some
polling stations; a confrontation between opposition Youth
Union members in Santa Cruz and pro-"Yes" campaigners
reportedly included threats and fisticuffs. Most other areas
of the country are reporting "normality" in the voting
process.
3. (U) No official results will be available until after 8pm
tonight, but initial reports suggest that countrywide the
"yes" vote to approve the constitution has the lead. In some
opposition departments, exit polls suggest that the "No" will
win within the department.
4. (U) Government Minister Alfredo Rada stated publicly today
that President Morales was not campaigning when he donated
equipment to cooperative miners and "nationalized" Chaco gas
company on January 23. "All the acts in which the President
participated are part of his duty, they were already
scheduled, it's not a campaign," Rada told the press.
Members of the opposition have complained that Morales's
actions violated voting rules, which prohibit campaigning in
the 72 hours before an election.
URS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC KDEM BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA: CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM SITREP #2 1400
EST
January 25, 2008
SITUATION REPORT: This is the second of three situation
reports planned today.
1. (U) Radio Erbol is reporting that as of noon over 40
percent of urban registered voters and over 60 percent of
rural registered voters have voted. (Note: Voting is
mandatory in Bolivia. Registered voters who do not vote are
removed from the voter rolls and must re-apply. The National
Electoral Court has announced fines of up to USD 30 for
registered voters who do not vote. The Court also announced
fines for other voting law infractions such as drinking,
taking drugs, or campaigning on the day of the election. End
note.)
2. (U) There are scattered reports of face-offs at some
polling stations; a confrontation between opposition Youth
Union members in Santa Cruz and pro-"Yes" campaigners
reportedly included threats and fisticuffs. Most other areas
of the country are reporting "normality" in the voting
process.
3. (U) No official results will be available until after 8pm
tonight, but initial reports suggest that countrywide the
"yes" vote to approve the constitution has the lead. In some
opposition departments, exit polls suggest that the "No" will
win within the department.
4. (U) Government Minister Alfredo Rada stated publicly today
that President Morales was not campaigning when he donated
equipment to cooperative miners and "nationalized" Chaco gas
company on January 23. "All the acts in which the President
participated are part of his duty, they were already
scheduled, it's not a campaign," Rada told the press.
Members of the opposition have complained that Morales's
actions violated voting rules, which prohibit campaigning in
the 72 hours before an election.
URS