Bolivia heading in the wrong direction

OUR OPINION: TIME RUNNING OUT FOR MORALES TO FIND PEACEFUL WAY OUT

The political crisis in Bolivia worsened last weekend when voters in the country's wealthiest region defied President Evo Morales and the violence led by pro-Morales thugs to vote overwhelmingly for autonomy from the central government. This is a clear setback for Mr. Morales, who has waged a nonstop campaign of vilification against opponents who don't go along with his plans for a radical transformation of the country. With Bolivia rapidly dissolving into warring camps, Mr. Morales is running out of time to forge a compromise that will avoid a violent outcome.

Economic heartland

At least three other provinces will soon follow the lead of Santa Cruz and hold autonomy votes. All are in the eastern part of Bolivia, the economic heartland of this landlocked country where pro-autonomy sentiment runs high. For that, Mr. Morales has only himself to blame. Elected in 2005 after a career as a firebrand leader of coca-growing peasants, he proudly proclaimed himself the first indigenous president of the country. Instead of using his electoral success to heal Bolivia's long-standing geographic and ethnic fissures, Mr. Morales made a series of mistakes that deepened its polarization.

The centerpiece of his political scheme is a constitution adopted after a series of violent confrontations with the opposition that was voted on under questionable circumstances. Its features include a form of ''community justice'' in place of a conventional judicial system and the distribution of political power to indigenous communities as a way to sideline -- and silence -- political adversaries in places like Santa Cruz.

Understandably, the provincial leaders are wary of this plan and don't subscribe to Mr. Morales' other political recipes. Despite the rantings of a few autonomy advocates, Bolivians in the eastern region don't want their own country, but rather the right to have a greater say over local affairs and how local taxes are spent. Their differences with Mr. Morales can be negotiated, but not if he chooses to continue demonizing the opponents as a ''white oligarchy'' bent on subjugating the country's indigenous majority.

Bridge differences

Mr. Morales seems to have made a bet that he could cow the opposition into submission. Instead, he has squandered a historic opportunity to heal the breach in Bolivian society. Autonomy votes in the provinces may be ''symbolic'' rather than legally binding, but they are politically meaningful because they represent a defiant rejection of his policies.

The challenge for Mr. Morales is to find a way to change course. He must bridge the differences with the opposition before violence gets out of hand. Bolivia is heading over the precipice, and the clock is rapidly winding down.