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GUEST: Dr. Waltraud “Trudi” Q. Morales, Professor of Political science at the University of Central Florida. She is the author of “Bolivia: Land of Struggle” and more recently “A Brief History of Bolivia”

Demonstrations in Cochabamba, Bolivia over the past several weeks have led to two deaths and many injuries. The demonstrators, mainly coca leaf growers who back President Evo Morales, want the Cochabamba governor Manfred Reyes, who is aligned with the opposition, to resign. After a cabinet meeting last Wednesday probing the conflict, Morales’ government has placed blame squarely on Governor Reyes. Manfred Reyes, a former presidential candidate, continues to express support for autonomy referendums for wealthy states such as Santa Cruz. Governor Reyes has fled Cochabamba, and vows not to return until demonstrations stop calling for his ouster. The Morales government has issued statements backing his right to return and has refused to recognize the legality of a parallel authority declared by social movements in the city. Meanwhile, the President has announced a bill that would give citizens the ability to withdraw elected leaders such as Governor Reyes. The situation in Cochabamba is spreading as social movements in the capital city of La Paz have planned a twenty four hour general strike on Monday to force the ouster of their Governor, Jose Luis Parades. Parades, like Reyes, continues to favor referendums on autonomy.