Four of the richest regions in Bolivia are set to declare their autonomy from the national government of President Evo Morales thanks to a new constitution that would massively increase taxes on the regions in order to pay for social programs:Thousands waved the Santa Cruz region's green-and-white flags in the streets as council members of the Santa Cruz, Tarija, Beni and Pando districts made the public announcement. The officials displayed a green-bound document containing a set of statutes paving the way to a permanent separation from the Bolivian government. Council representatives vowed to legitimize the so-called autonomy statutes through a referendum that would legally separate the natural-gas rich districts from President Evo Morales' government.Morales has mobilized the army and intends to enforce national soveriegnty by whatever means necessary: In the capital city La Paz on Saturday, Morales addressed thousands of flag-waving supporters in the Plaza Murillo, defending the...(Read Full Post)