Defensor Defends Referendum

Waldo Albarracin, the current Defensor del Pueblo, has publicly come out in support of the July 18 Referendum. He joins Caritas, Amnesty International, Asamblea Permanente de Derechos Humanos, and other lesser known organizations that have come out in support of the Referendum process.

"To demonize the Referendum and to threaten to burn ballot boxes and other acts in order to prevent (the Referendum) from taking place is an attempt against democracy and also against the rights of the Bolivian people," said Albarracin.

The list of organizations have not declared an official position regarding the five questions, but said that the results should be respected and carried out. However, if the five questions pass with a "Yes" vote, there still is a long road ahead to determine what those votes actually mean.

It's a very good thing that the Defensor del Pueblo has voiced his support for this exercise. However, he should have spoke out stronger against the boycotts, strikes, roadblocks and threats of violence that are certain to accompany this coming weekend.