- Title: Coca growers clash with police in La Paz over coca plantation bill
- Date: 21st February 2017
- Summary: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (FEBRUARY 21, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF LEGAL COCA GROWERS THROWING ROCKS AT RIOT POLICEMEN RIOT POLICEMEN RUNNING TOWARDS PROTESTERS WHILE FIRING TEAR GAS CANISTERS AT THEM TEAR GAS GOING OFF ON STREET PROTESTERS RUNNING AWAY WHILE TEAR GAS CANISTERS ARE BEING FIRED MORE OF PROTESTERS THROWING ROCKS AT RIOT POLICEMEN ZOOM INTO BROKEN WINDOWS ON BUILDING E
- Embargoed: 7th March 2017 16:58
- Keywords: Coca growers clash police government coca plantations legal
- Location: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
- City: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
- Country: Bolivia
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA00164GSEGZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL THAT WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
Clashes erupted Tuesday (February 21) between riot policemen and coca growers in Bolivia's capital of La Paz during the growers' protest of a draft government bill that would legalise 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) of coca vegetation. The confrontation started overnight and at least one demonstrator was left seriously injured while at least 43 were arrested, according to local media.
There were also clashes on Monday (February 20).
During the confrontation, riot policemen fired tear gas canisters at protesters who in turn threw rocks, sticks and hand grenades at the police near the Burned Palace Government Palace and National Congress of Bolivia in the Plaza Murillo in La Paz.
According to local media, one protester - from the legal coca market ADEPCOCA (Coca Growers Association) - was seriously injured during the melee.
The Bolivian government has drafted a bill proposing to legalise growing coca on 19,000 hectares of land, thus introducing unwelcome competition for the Los Yungas legal coca growers in the department of La Paz.
Morales has defended Bolivians' right to chew coca leaves, the main ingredient of cocaine, saying it is an ancient tradition that provide health benefits irrespective of also serving as a base for cocaine.
The legal coca growers argue Morales has drafted the bill without their review or consent. They also maintain the move puts them at a disadvantage for competition on the vital coca market.
The current law would set out 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres) for legal coca crop growth in the Los Yungas region in the department of La Paz. The new bill would also extend the legality of another 7,000 hectares (18,000 acres) of land in the coca-growing El Chapare region, where Bolivian President Evo Morales rose to prominence as a fiery union leader.
Morales, who has been Bolivia's president for the last 11 years, was also the leader of the illegal coca growers in the area of El Chapare.
The legal coca growers have organised a sit-in protest surrounding Plaza Murillo in La Paz for the past week before being evicted.
During the clashes, the protesters retreated from the surroundings of the middle of the city and escaped by different routes.
Television images showed that others managed to regroup and tried to re-enter Plaza Murillo but were blocked by riot policemen and forced to disperse.
The Clashes lasted for several hours and into the morning. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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