- Title: BOLIVIA: Teachers and other workers violently clash with police
- Date: 16th April 2011
- Summary: TARIJA, BOLIVIA (APRIL 15, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS CLASHING WITH POLICE AS THEY TRY TO PREVENT MORALES FROM ATTENDING PUBLIC APPEARANCES SANTA CRUZ, BOLIVIA (APRIL 15, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ROADBLOCKS BY HEALTH WORKERS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) HEALTH WORKER, JULIA SILES, SAYING: "What we want is for the government to realize that it is assaulting h
- Embargoed: 1st May 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Bolivia, Plurinational State Of
- Country: Bolivia
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA2563V7ZLC6JSO0E10UY1CIOHL
- Story Text: A squadron of 700 police officers descended on a mob of nearly 5,000 rural teachers on Friday (April 15) firing a barrage of teargas canisters and pellet shot as they tried to break up the educators who blocked a major highway as they continue to demand better wages.
The violence lasted more than five hours as the teachers groups held their ground answering police fire by hurling rocks and other projectiles.
At least four injuries were reported with no reports of deaths as the rural teachers blocked the highway connecting La Paz with Oruro with a trail of trucks and busses that forced passengers to cross the roadblock by foot.
Teachers, miners and health workers are demanding a higher wage increase than the 10 percent offered by the government.
The demonstrations started last week in La Paz and have now spread to all nine of Bolivia's departments as the Bolivian Workers Central group, the country's largest umbrella union, called for a strike to demand higher wage increases to offset rising consumer prices.
The rural teachers and the working class who were once adamant supporters of President Evo Morales and helped him come to power as the country's first indigenous leader in 2002 leader are now starting to call his leadership into question.
"This government doesn't listen to us. It has said there is change, but we haven't seen any changes. It is the same as all governments. They told us that once Evo was in there would be better pay for teachers, but we are in the worst state of misery ever," said a rural teacher who asked not to be identified.
Morales made an appearance at a public event on Thursday (April 14) but was forced to call the event early and take shelter in a hotel as the demonstrators raged.
Another group of demonstrators clashed with police in Tarija on Friday to prevent the Morales from making an appearance.
The president has not been seen publicly since the event Thursday.
Urban teachers, miners and health workers held their own demonstrations in cities throughout the Andean nation.
Health workers were protesting a law passed that would require them to deposit their money in public Banco Union accounts.
The health workers say the government wants to use their to cushion the cash-strapped country's finances.
"What we want is for the government to realize that it is assaulting health and social security. We all have families and fight for our families" said health worker Julia Siles.
Health workers beat and burned an effigy of Health Minister Nila Heredia and carried signs and shouted slogans denouncing the government.
The roadblocks across the country have brought major highways to a standstill and caused havoc in busy cities.
The bus terminal in La Paz has suspended its fleet leaving passengers and tourists stranded not knowing when they will reach their destinations.
Those already en route have been face the choice of waiting for the conflict to be resolved or trek across the roadblocks on foot.
The workers have demanded to speak directly with Morales and have vowed to hold their lines until they reach a deal with the government. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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