Morales declares new constitution after approval by referendum

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(7 Feb 2009) • 1. Various wide top shots of government supporters holding flags and banners gathered ahead of Bolivian President Evo Morales' arrival • 2. Morales arriving at ceremony, waving to supporters • 3. Wide of ceremony • 4. Morales signing new constitution • 5. Wide of ceremony • 6. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Evo Morales, President of Bolivia: • On this historic day, I proclaim the new constitution of the Bolivian state effective. A unitarian, plurinational state is in effect - socially and economically - a community socialism - now that the new constitution of the Bolivian state is in effect. • 7. Morales shaking hands with Organisation of American States (OAS) Secretary-General Jose Miguel Insulza • 8. Wide of military parade • 9. Various of indigenous ritual in which a llama foetus is sacrificed for good luck and protection • 10. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Justo Bernave, Indigenous Religious Leader: • We have prepared an offering to the sun god and to the mother moon, to the 'achachilas' (Aymara Gods) and to mother earth as a thank you. We are going to consecrate it so that this new constitution has strength, courage and a spirit of understanding for all. • 11. Morales' supporters at ceremony • STORYLINE: • President Evo Morales and thousands of supporters celebrated Bolivia's new constitution as it took effect on Saturday, saying the new document will enshrine indigenous rights and end centuries of oppression. • The constitution, the first approved in Bolivia by popular vote, promises more power for the poor, indigenous majority; recognises communal justice; grants some regional autonomy; and declares coca a part of the nation's heritage. • A unitarian, plurinational state is in effect - socially and economically, Morales said upon signing the charter. • A military parade accompanied the ceremony before a crowd of Morales' indigenous supporters at El Alto, near the capital La Paz. • El Alto is one of Bolivia's poorest cities and a birthplace of the constitutional reform movement. • An Aymara priest burned a llama foetus as an offering to the Pachamama, or Mother Earth, to invoke the Andean gods' protection for the charter. • The new constitution also lets presidents seek re-election, giving the popular Morales a shot at remaining in office through 2014 if he wins a vote scheduled for December 6. • The charter was backed by more than 61 percent of voters in a January 25 referendum. • But the no vote prevailed in four of Bolivia's nine states - all in the relatively prosperous lowlands, where opposition to Morales is fervent and has sometimes turned violent - leaving the racially divided nation as torn as ever. • Speaking to an audience that included Organisation of American States secretary-general Jose Miguel Insulza, Venezuelan Foreign Minister • Nicolas Maduro and 1992 Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu, Morales on Sunday declared victory in his quest to remake the nation. • He later urged Bolivians to reconcile and work together to implement the constitution. • Morales also rallied supporters to help him win 70 percent of the vote in December. • He currently leads in polls against a fractured opposition. • • Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork • Twitter: / ap_archive • Facebook: / aparchives • Instagram: / apnews • • • You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...

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