A club-wielding mob of thousands has taken control of Bolivia’s busiest airport in the town of Santa Cruz in the latest development in the struggle between the left-leaning government of Evo Morales and the country’s wealthiest province. The right-wing group expelled troops sent by Morales after local official began demanding that airlines pay landing fees to them rather than the federal government.
Their demand for greater autonomy is part of the fierce resistance of the Santa Cruz elites against efforts by the Morales government toward land reform and nationalization of key industries.
Santa Cruz leaders are demanding a greater share of the revenues from natural gas produced in their state, much of which has been allocated by the federal government to poorer areas in the country.
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