BOLIVIA-CLASHES Protesters from Potosi clash with police in La Paz

Record ID: 147208

  • Title: BOLIVIA-CLASHES Protesters from Potosi clash with police in La Paz
  • Date: 15th July 2015
  • Summary: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (JULY 14, 2015) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS FROM POTOSI GATHERED IN LA PAZ CLOSE UP OF WOMAN PROTESTING VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS HOLDING POTOSI FLAGS AND BLOCKING TRAFFIC CLOSE UP OF SIGN THAT READS: 'POTOSI FEDERAL' FIRECRACKERS EXPLODING IN PROTEST (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PROTESTER FROM POTOSI, VICTOR GORENA, SAYING: "The government wants to lie to us, it says 'we ha
  • Embargoed: 30th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVADMQ4VPXD4S6B0T4DI5T02KQCE
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL THAT WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
    Protesters from the southwestern department of Potosi clashed with police in La Paz on Monday (July 13) after demonstrators gathered in the administrative capital to demand a meeting with President Evo Morales over what they claimed were 'unfulfilled government promises'.
    Protesters, who have been demonstrating in Potosi and La Paz for the past for nine days, waved department flags, lit firecrackers and blocked traffic.
    Victor Gorena, from Potosi, explained why he decided to take to the streets, saying the government had to stop using his department as a cash cow and carry out commitments pertaining to regional development.
    "The government wants to lie to us, it says 'we have built highways' but I know that those highways were being built before I was born. The government managed to finish building them. Now they tell us they have given money but that's a lie, go to Potosi and see what progress has been made - there is nothing, we don't even have a meager toilet paper company that the government won't give us and never will and yes, now we are in La Paz to ask for this right. Unfortunately for President Evo Morales, Potosi seems to be a stepson, we don't seem to be part of Bolivia because they have never given us importance. Potosi has been and will continue to be a cash cow if the Potosinos don't ask for what is our right," he said.
    The protests turned violent when demonstrators tried to enter Plaza Murillo, a city square located beside the government palace.
    Four people were injured in the clashes, including one police officer.
    Riot police fired tear gas to disperse the crowds and 10 arrests were made.
    In the city of Potosi, the department capital, businesses were shut on Monday (July 13) as part of a strike against the government and the main highway connecting Potosi with the rest of the country was blockaded by demonstrators.
    The protesters, organized under the Potosi Civic Committee (COMCIPO) have a 26-point list of demands related to regional development, ranging from the construction of an international airport to border area conflicts with the neighbouring department of Oruro.
    Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest lithium deposit, is located in the department of Potosi.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register