By Xinhua,
Lima : At least 20 people were injured on Sunday during confrontations between sympathizers of Bolivian President Evo Morales and his opposers that are currently holding an autonomous referendum in Bolivia’s eastern Santa Cruz department.
The violence occurred between Morales’ sympathizers, of the Movement For Socialism (MAS), and autonomist rightwing groups, including of the rightwing Santa Cruz Youth Union (UJC).
In Santa Cruz de la Sierra, the department’s capital, a clash between officials and opposers left eight people injured, including one that suffered head injuries.
Government spokesman Ivan Canelas said Santa Cruz’s popular consultation was tarnished with violence by radical rightwing autonomist groups.
Santa Cruz department on Sunday started at 8:00 a.m. local time(13:00 GMT) the popular consultation of the Autonomous Statute, headed by the department’s governor and the Civic Front, but it was rejected by the central government, the National Electoral Court and Bolivias Armed Forces.