Governors of four wealthy eastern Bolivian provinces have announced
they will let their residents decide whether or not to declare autonomy
from the rest of the country. These provinces are largely low-lying
Amazon areas. They have a higher degree of racial diversity and more
natural resources than the rest of the country.

Opposition leaders are contesting a new Bolivian constitution that
grants power to the country's large indigenous population and aims to
limit the size of landholdings. The bid for autonomy puts the eastern
provinces in direct conflict with the reforming government of President
Evo Morales in La Paz.

As FSRN's Diletta Varlese reports, the eastern regions intend to vote on the plan within 90 days.