- Title: Coca growers protest against reported crackdown by Bolivian government
- Date: 5th September 2018
- Summary: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (SEPTEMBER 5, 2018) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** GENERAL VIEW OF PROTESTERS MARCHING ON STREET SEEN FROM CABLE CAR PROTESTERS MARCHING ON STREET FEET OF MARCHERS PROTESTERS HOLDING SIGN READING (Spanish) "EVO AND ROMERO - MURDERERS" PROTESTERS MARCHING WITH BOLIVIAN FLAG WOMEN IN PROTEST FEMALE PROTESTERS HOLDING SIGNS PROTESTER IN TR
- Embargoed: 19th September 2018 21:59
- Keywords: Bolivia Evo Morales coca growers protest march indigenous groups Yungas
- Location: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
- City: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
- Country: Bolivia
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0018WCPI6B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Thousands of coca growers and their supporters took to the streets of La Paz on Wednesday (September 05) in opposition the government of Bolivian President Evo Morales, accusing authorities of violence against them.
The majority of the protesters were affiliated with groups of coca growers from the Yungas region in the hills and jungles on the eastern slopes of the Andes who claim the government's coca eradication efforts have hurt their livelihood and led to the death of two of their members.
The Bolivian government has claimed that Colombian and Peruvian nationals may be in the Yungas region providing training and counsel to the coca growers. Fernando Arratia, the former leader of a group of coca growers, however, denied it saying, "there aren't any foreigners or snipers in the Yungas. On the contrary, the government has sent snipers to kill our fellow coca producers."
Groups of university students and others opposed to the possibility that Morales will run for a fourth term in office also joined the protests. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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