BOLIVIA-MINERS Bolivian miners hopeful for government action on their demands

Record ID: 146133

  • Title: BOLIVIA-MINERS Bolivian miners hopeful for government action on their demands
  • Date: 28th July 2015
  • Summary: PHOTOGRAPH OF EVO MORALES ON NEWSPAPER
  • Embargoed: 12th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA2RE361WQTMFPHMGT5DZUZ9XCT
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL THAT WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
    Striking miners continue to dispute Bolivian President Evo Morales's refusal to sign agreements over development projects in the Potosi region, and have begun to occupy the San Andres University Auditorium in the nation's capital, La Paz.
    For weeks, protesters from the southern Bolivian department of Potosi have called for the construction of hospitals, roads, a cement factory and an international airport to be built in their region as part of a 26-point plan for the government.
    The striking miners have long called for negotiations to resolve the conflict, putting the onus on President Evo Morales to respond.
    A report in La Razon newspaper confirmed that Morales did not intend to sign agreements, a stance maintained by Minister of the Presidency, Juan Ramon Quintana speaking to reporters on Monday (July 27).
    "President Evo Morales does not sign agreements, we have said this to our companions at the Potosi Civic Committee many times. He does not sign agreements because it is not part of negotiations. That is what we are here for of course, because if the President had to sign agreements then we would have to do away with the cabinet. That is absolutely clear and we have repeated it many times," said Quintana.
    Potosi, a rural area of the country known for its mining resources, suffers a lack of development, lagging behind the rest of the country and a national economic growth rate of five per cent.
    Men, women and children from the region have begun camping out in the capital, adding further pressure to the government after weeks of violent protests.
    One of those joining the occupation was Jimena Delgado, who explained the sacrifices these families have made in order to stake their claims.
    "They can give us the airport and the cement factory, it is just that the government is so arrogant and does not want to. The government has most likely committed to giving this to other regions and that is why they won't give it to us. But I think they should give it to us, because we haven't come here to catch a cold and leave our families in Potosi so that he will tell us no. Mr President, you are very bad because we have come here for something and you have to give this to us. You made a commitment and you have to see it through," said Delgado.
    Violence last week erupted in the streets of La Paz between riot police and protesting miners, resulting in the arrest of four protesters and another two being sent to hospital with injuries.
    President of the Potosi Civic Committee, Johnny Llalli, told media that talks must recommence as soon as those four are released.
    "We ask for the corresponding guarantee so that once our four companions who have been detained are released they will recommence the dialogue, and that they also guarantee that the state channel and all media outlets will broadcast it without any interruption. Thirdly, the President of Bolivia must sign the agreements," said Llalli.
    The dispute comes at a difficult time for mining in Bolivia. Twenty percent of Bolivian mining cooperatives are working at a loss due to the fall in mineral prices, raising anger at the government for failures to enact industrialisation plans in Potosi.
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