BOLIVIA-PROTEST/DISTURBANCE-POTOSI Striking miners pressure Bolivian government to listen to their demands

Record ID: 146453

  • Title: BOLIVIA-PROTEST/DISTURBANCE-POTOSI Striking miners pressure Bolivian government to listen to their demands
  • Date: 19th July 2015
  • Summary: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (JULY 18, 2015) (REUTERS) WIDE OF UNIVERSIDAD MAYOR OF SAN ANDRES WITH STRIKING MINERS WHO HAVE BEEN PROTESTING FOR TWO WEEKS VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS EATING LUNCH DONATED BY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS SURROUNDING A MAN AND ACCUSING HIM OF BEING A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL VARIOUS OF INTERIOR OF UNIVERSITY STADIUM WHERE STRIKERS HAVE BEEN STAYING (SOU
  • Embargoed: 3rd August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVABZYIG41J99FD6JLHMJ28NUDU8
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Bolivian authorities guarded government buildings in central La Paz on Saturday (July 18) as tensions remain high after police clashed with rural miners striking about a lack of investment and job opportunities in Potosi department.
    Potosi, a rural area of the country known for its mining resources, suffers from high poverty and a lack of development, lagging behind the rest of the country and a national economic growth rate of five per cent.
    For ten days, they have held protests in the capital city of La Paz and tried to advance onto government headquarters.
    Riot police guarded buildings and brought in vans for the possible detention of protesters.
    Johnny Llalli who heads the Potosi Civic Committee said the government has refused to sit down and discuss their regional issues.
    "Unfortunately, we are going through some very difficult days. The conflict has been going on for many days. We've been here in La Paz for two weeks. Up to now, the national government has not held any meetings with us," he said.
    The lull on Saturday comes just one day after dynamite, tear gas and rocks flew between the striking miners and police.
    On Friday, police first used tear gas on the protesters but, when they ran out of tear gas canisters, police reportedly threw rocks at the activists.
    Llalli accused authorities of discrimination and violence against the miners.
    "The national government is showing great discrimination by not attending to our demands. We're far from our families. We haven't slept well. We're being pursued by Bolivian authorities. We're being hit by (rubber) bullets and gas by Bolivian police. The citizens, all the people of Potosi, are going through great discrimination," he said.
    The protesters have been trying to enter Plaza Murrillo, La Paz's main square that houses the President Palace and National Congress of Bolivia.
    Protesters are demanding President Evo Morales fulfill a promise to develop the Potosi region. They want hospitals, roads and an international airport to be built in their region and have launched a 26-point plan for the government.
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