The Catholic Church considers that the majority of Bolivians are mestizos and argues that there is a predominant mix of cultures. Even the leaders of the indigenous peoples agree that within their nations there is miscegenation, but they prefer that this category not be included in the census ballot, since this factor will contribute to a significant reduction in their population.
The Deputy Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Bolivia (CEB), Diego Plá, suggested that instead of asking about the indigenous nation to which a person belongs, ask about the culture with which Bolivians self-identify, in order to have a better vision of the reality of the country.
“I have a very personal vision. I think we are all mestizos, we are not in a pure nature, we have mixtures, but more than talking about mestizos, I think that the correct term is cultures, the culture with which you identify should be included in the Census”, proposed the priest.
From the other village, the vice-president of the sub-central of the Isiboro Sécure National Park Indigenous Territory (Tipnis), Saúl Molina, reported that the inclusion of the word mestizo is an issue that is under debate with their bases. However, he anticipated that They do not see it convenient for this category to be included in the census questionnaire, despite the fact that he admitted that some indigenous people self-identify as mestizos.
“We are evaluating and as the directorate of the Tipnis sub-central we have to meet with the corregidores to determine that matter. Some identify as mestizos. We are all crossed and that self-determination is respected. That is why we are in the middle of a debate because for us as indigenous peoples it is not convenient because it is going to reduce our population”, declared the leader to this medium.
In this line, the indigenous peoples in the territory of Santa Cruz are promoting a campaign to promote that both indigenous people and people who self-identify with one of the 36 native indigenous peasant nations, regardless of where they are, register their origin in the census scheduled for November 16.
“Many of the indigenous people who live in the cities are mestizos, but it is not convenient for us to register them as mestizosbut rather has to self-identify with a nation”, stressed the leader of the Continental Council of the Guarani Nation, Celso Padilla.
The Government decided that the mestizo category will not be included in the census ballot. The authorities argued that the last time that category was used was in 1900, and now the race debate cannot be installed. The presidential spokesman, Jorge Richter, stated that the intention to generate a debate regarding mestizaje has political desires.
In contrast, the former leader of the indigenous people of the Tipnis Fernando Vargas, considers that the word mestizo should be included so that the indigenous, coming from two cultures or nations of the country, can identify themselves as such. He fears that the number of the indigenous population will be lower than that of the 2012 census.
Vargas believes that there is an intention of the Government to “eliminate” the indigenous people of the lowlands by excluding the word mestizo from the census ballot, since those who come from two nations will have to choose the “Other” option.
“Did the lowland indigenous peoples recognize it with their hearts or only it was put in the Political Constitution of the State to please at the political moment What was carried out?” asked Fernando Vargas.
