Dupe. Sorry. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

Morales promises ‘democratic revolution’
By Naomi Mapstone in Lima and Andres Schipani in La Paz

Published: January 23 2009 17:46 | Last updated: January 23 2009 17:46

Evo Morales, Bolivia’s popular leftwing president, has ended his campaign for a new constitution ahead of Sunday’s national referendum with promises of “democratic revolution” and a new era of equality for the volatile Andean nation.

At a rally in La Paz, thousands of supporters waved the multicoloured check flag of indigenous people and chanted “Evo, yes!” beneath a giant inflatable figure of Mr Morales in a trademark striped woollen jumper.

For Mr Morales, Bolivia’s first indigenous president, the rally was a celebration of three years in office, and a milestone in his bid to extend state control over natural resources and redistribute land and set quotas for indigenous groups in government.

“There will be millions and millions of Bolivians who will guarantee the approval of the new constitution to refound Bolivia so as to be a new state with equal opportunities, a new state where everyone will have the same rights and duties,” Mr Morales said. “Brothers and sisters, we have to guarantee this democratic revolution with Evo Morales or without Evo Morales.”

Bolivians are widely expected to vote in favour of the constitution, which endorses “community justice” and the election of judges, removes Catholicism as the state religion and, in a supplementary question, seeks to limit landholdings to 5,000 hectares or 10,000 ha.

More:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/081d4d04-e957-11dd-9535-0000779fd2ac.html