Trouble In (Socialist) Paradise

One of (T)Hugo Chavez's underlings, president Evo Morales of Bolivia, is having more than a bit of trouble enacting his socialist utopia. In the latest uproar, more than 7,000 residents of the province of Santa Cruz stormed and occupied the airport there, driving Bolivian troops into a very hasty retreat.

Protesters armed with clubs and waving flags rallied at the airport in the province of Santa Cruz.

The dispute pits Bolivia's richest region against the central government.

President Morales' socialist government had sent in troops after claiming that local officials were illegally demanding landing fee payments.

But the troops pulled back on Friday to avoid clashes with protesters.

Most flights at the Viru Viru airport have been running normally despite the dispute, reports say.

Demonstrators were responding to a call from the Santa Cruz governor, Ruben Costas, for people to turn out in huge numbers on Friday to wrest back control of the airport.

But the 220 troops withdrew before about 7,000 protesters reached the site.

"This has been a victory for the people of this town, and it has been a defeat for the wicked," said Santa Cruz governor Ruben Costas, who is a fierce opponent of President Morales.

The airport is only the flashpoint. In fact there are many disputes, including a local desire for autonomy from the central government and a fierce opposition to Morales' plans to seize the assets of companies in the region - al la his master's asset grabs in Venezuela. I rather suspect there will be more unrest very soon.