- Title: Bolivia's Santa Cruz in cold war with La Paz over cattle and grain
- Date: 12th January 2023
- Summary: ENCONADA, SANTA CRUZ, BOLIVIA (JANUARY 7, 2023) (REUTERS) (MUTE) DRONE VIEW OF SOYBEAN CROPS PAILAS, SANTA CRUZ, BOLIVIA (JANUARY 7, 2023) (REUTERS) VARIOUS DRONE VIEWS OF CATTLE IN PASTURE (MUTE) RANCHER JAVIER MONASTERIO WALKING IN FIELD, CATTLE IN BACKGROUND VARIOUS OF CATTLE IN FIELD (SOUNDBITE) RANCHER, JAVIER MONASTERIO, SAYING: “We’re blocked, we’re barred. Th
- Embargoed: 26th January 2023 11:07
- Keywords: Bolivia Evo Morales Governor La Paz Luis Camacho Protest Santa Cruz
- Location: VARIOUS LOCATIONS, BOLIVIA
- City: VARIOUS LOCATIONS, BOLIVIA
- Country: Bolivia
- Topics: South America / Central America,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001198212012023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Javier Monasterios, a rancher from Pailas in Bolivia's lowland area of Santa Cruz, is feeling the economic hit of weeks-long protests after the dramatic arrest of the region's governor and blockades which have hindered domestic transport of grains and meat.
The tensions were sparked by the arrest of Santa Cruz's local elected leader Luis Camacho last month over an alleged coup in 2019 against then President Evo Morales, a complex period of Bolivia's history that sharply divides opinion.
Protests against the central government have seen buildings and cars burned, while blockades have prevented transport of food and grains from the key producing region, a bid by local leaders to pressure La Paz by squeezing domestic supply.
The tension has forced Monasterios to put plans to double the number of cattle on his farm on hold, but he remains resolute that the region needs to fight back against what many locally see as a political attack by La Paz.
"This affects us because a good part of our production goes to markets in the interior," Monasterios told Reuters at his farm, adding though that he respected the "popular movement" that he hoped would bring longer-term benefits to the country.
The tensions underscore a sharpening of a deeper-seated rivalry between Santa Cruz and La Paz - Bolivia's farming hub and the political capital respectively - that have long butted heads over politics and resources.
Santa Cruz is a conservative, Catholic region with a significant white European descent community. La Paz, an Andean stronghold with a large indigenous population that has traditionally titled towards the ruling socialist MAS party.
The government in La Paz says the arrest of Camacho was justice for stirring up protests as a civic leader in 2019 that led to the resignation of Morales under widespread pressure and ushered in a divisive interim right-wing government.
Morales' MAS party now led by President Luis Arce, his former economy chief, returned to office winning a 2020 election, and have gone after rivals since including Camacho and interim president Jeanine Anez, also currently in jail.
Marcelo Montenegro, economy minister, said Santa Cruz would struggle to put pressure on the capital, arguing that while it was a key food producer, other regions could take the slack and that it needed state fuel subsidies and domestic buyers.
"They can't resist on their own", said Montenegro, adding the rising economic pressures would force Santa Cruz producers to re-start supply within the country.
"It is a very complex bet. What we understand is that there an is economic rationality, but well we don't see it being that strong. They are going to have to somehow go back to depending on national consumption."
The stand-off between the two cities has sparked calls in Santa Cruz for a federal model to gain more autonomy and some more extreme groups demanding independence. Many still remain determined to keep protests going.
"We are going to rise up to our faith," a local man from Santa Cruz, Victor Hugo, told Reuters.
(Production: Monica Machicao, Sergio Limachi, Santiago Limachi, Agustin Marcarian, Anna Portella) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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