Santa Cruz autonomy referendum

Yesterday in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, where I have returned to work on a congenitally transmitted parasite project, there was an autonomy referendum that has been receiving a lot of press. Things got hot in places, with an estimated 20 people injured and 1 killed, but it seems the tension has eased following the very predictable results. The apartment here is just a few blocks from the main plaza, so it got loud at times with marches and fireworks, but I have felt perfectly safe. Click here for a BBC article on the autonomy movement in Bolivia