A tale of two cities in Bolivia
Protests over proposed changes to Bolivia Constitution have left at least three people dead in the co-capital city of Sucre. Those in opposition to the reform, also set a prison ablaze, prompting the escape of more than 100 inmates. Since the 1980s La Paz and Sucre have shared the title of Bolivia’s capital. But protestors want Sucre – Bolivia’s judicial seat of government, and constitutional capital – to regain legislative and executive branches of government. Thus excluding La Paz as a capital city, and potentially severing its claim to revenues from Bolivia’s national oil reserves. When a new draft constitution was approved in the Special Assembly in Sucre, both cities erupted into protest. Although Bolivia has a robust history of political demonstration – this is the first time President Evo Morales has faced such intense criticism from both indigenous and non-indigenous constituents.