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Tensions rise after Santa Cruz civic movement threatens to "evict" recent settlements. Campesinos pledge they will only leave "in coffins." eldeber.com.bo/santacruz/Civicos-recorren-la-Chiquitania-para-verificar-asentamientos-ilegales--20191007-7465.html
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The Santa Cruz civic movement claims many newly authorized settlements are illegal, some because they are in indigenous territories or protected areas.
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Background on recently authorized settlements: lostiempos.com/actualidad/pais/20190915/asentamientos-se-extienden-beni-pando-territorios-indigenas
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Carlos Saucedo, an agrarian leader from San Miguel, spoke at Friday's cabildo in Santa Cruz denouncing new settlements as cause of the fires. reportechaco.com/post/cabildo-da-ultimatum-por-tierra-va-por-federalismo-y-pide-voto-castigo
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Saucedo recalled San Miguel's mobilization in March against the titling of land to newly arrived settlers. laprensa.com.bo/economia/20190323/chiquitania-se-moviliza-contra-reparto-de-inra
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Saucedo argued that by repelling new settlers, they made San Miguel into "the only town with no fires." More sober studies claim about 20% of the fires were associated with new settlements. eldeber.com.bo/santacruz/Civicos-recorren-la-Chiquitania-para-verificar-asentamientos-ilegales--20191007-7465.html
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Elsewhere, in San Ignacio de Velasco, long(er)-time locals have also cast blame on arriving settlers who don't know how to control the fires they start. theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/02/bolivia-evo-morales-wildfires-chiquitano
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The Cruceño civic committee now claims it is conducting a survey in coordination with mayors of fire-affected municipalities in preparation for what amounts to a vigilante eviction. eldeber.com.bo/santacruz/Civicos-recorren-la-Chiquitania-para-verificar-asentamientos-ilegales--20191007-7465.html
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Luis Fernando Camacho, president of the Comité pro Santa Cruz pledges these evictions will be unarmed: "We're not speaking here of bullets, nor of machetes or sticks." eldeber.com.bo/santacruz/Civicos-recorren-la-Chiquitania-para-verificar-asentamientos-ilegales--20191007-7465.html
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In many cases, new settlers have already departed, either because they are not full-time farmers on the land, or because of the fires.
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The campesino federation, which includes the new settlers, responded: "Regrettably, [the civic movement] is seeking a confrontation among Cruceños. If they want to evict our comrades, they must make thousands of coffins because they will only take us out when we are dead."
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While the Cabildo set a Monday deadline, the Camacho indicated that Tuesday and Wednesday will be spent on the "survey" of new settlements. And the election looms ahead, a week from Sunday.