BOLIVIA: Transit strike paralyzes Bolivian capital.

Record ID: 340796

  • Title: BOLIVIA: Transit strike paralyzes Bolivian capital.
  • Date: 8th May 2012
  • Summary: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (MAY 7, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MAIN AVENUES IN CITY DURING TRANSPORTATION STRIKE SIGN READING: DRIVERS REJECT THE TRANSPORT LAW VARIOUS OF STRIKE WITH MINIBUSES AND MICROBUSES BLOCKING STREETS SIGN SAYING: DOWN TO THE MAYOR (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ILARION QUISPE, TRANSPORTATION LEADER, SAYING: "Mass transit is not part of the topography of the city
  • Embargoed: 23rd May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Bolivia, Plurinational State Of
  • Country: Bolivia
  • Topics: Employment,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVA2R7DB7HZKU2SDR4R8PMGEHR0D
  • Story Text: A transport workers' strike caused chaos across Bolivia on Monday (May 07) at the start of a week of protests that hit both the government and opposition.
    Demonstrators blocked main streets in La Paz from the early hours of the morning. They were protesting plans by the local government, led by an opposition mayor, to take more control of transport services in a bid to impose more order on its traffic-heavy streets.
    The strike is set to last two days, but protesters say it could go on indefinitely if the local authorities do not back down in their attempt to regulate the transportation.
    Transportation leader Ilarion (ee-LAH-ree-ON) Quispe (kees-PEH) said the problems were ongoing.
    "Mass transit is not part of the topography of the city of La Paz because, in this city, there's no freedom. Every day, there are conflicts and we have to bear this kind of conflict," he said.
    Many residents depend on the Bolivian capital's huge network of privately owned minibuses to get to work and school.
    Because of the strike, schools and universities were closed, while public and private companies said they would be lenient with employees who had difficulties getting into work.
    Resident Amalia Tamayo said both sides need to take the first step towards resolving the conflict.
    "What's important is for them to start talks between the mayor's office and the drivers, and that they reach a good accord because this hurts us all-- the drivers and citizens," she said.
    Local media reported that transport strikes took place in a least six of the country's top 10 cities, including La Paz and El Alto.
    The nation has also been hit by serious strikes by doctors who have gone on for 40 days, leaving many citizens relying on emergency treatment. The doctors were angered by government plans to increase their working day from six to eight hours, without what they considered to be proper compensation or social benefits.
    Vice-President Alvaro Garcia Linera told the activists that they needed to abandon their strike for the sake of their country.
    "We call on the leaders to leave behind their political attitude, to leave behind their criminal attitude, to leave behind their abusive attitude, to leave behind their capricious attitude and return to work. Go to work; Bolivia needs you! Go to work! Go cure the sick! You swore to cure the sick. Bolivia pays you to cure the sick. Please go to work and leave behind your capricious and political attitudes," he said.
    Morales, who is in his second five-year term and seek a third term in 2014, last Friday temporarily suspended the implementation of Supreme Decree 1126 which would alter doctors' hours and said that conflicts were encouraged by the opposition for electoral purposes. Activists said they want him to completely withdraw the decree.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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