BOLIVIA: Striking Bolivians clash with police in La Paz on second day of three-day strike

Record ID: 340809

  • Title: BOLIVIA: Striking Bolivians clash with police in La Paz on second day of three-day strike
  • Date: 11th May 2012
  • Summary: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (MAY, 10 2012) (REUTERS) MINERS MARCHING IN UNION PROTEST DYNAMITE EXPLODING GENERAL VIEW OF MARCH MINER YELLING MINERS MARCHING DYNAMITE EXPLODING MINER YELLING GENERAL VIEW OF MARCH (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) UNION LEADER JUAN CARLOS TRUJILLO SAYING: "We are telling the government to give clear and positive answers to the workers that will benefit th
  • Embargoed: 26th May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Bolivia, Plurinational State Of
  • Country: Bolivia
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADQREJJCEACZ0G0CM4RDV45LXL
  • Story Text: Protesters clashed with police in La Paz on Thursday (May 10) on the second day of a three-day strike organised by disgruntled labour unions.
    Downtown La Paz was shut down by the protests led by the country's largest union, Bolivian Workers Centre (COB). Miners blew up sticks of dynamite in the streets as they demanded salary hikes and better benefits.
    COB leader Juan Carlos Trujillo said the protesters want clear answers from the administration of President Evo Morales.
    "We are telling the government to give clear and positive answers to the workers that will benefit the population in general. They must also clear things up to those who are misinterpreting our protests. We don't want to destabilise the government. On the contrary, with our petition from the COB, we are letting people know of the terrible government policies regarding gas and oil, mining, and production and that, through this decree, they are affecting workers' rights and victories," he said.
    Health care workers and medical students are among the demonstrators. They say the government is taking away their opportunities to study and repressing their protests.
    "The coca growers can march in the squares. They let the transport workers block roads. And they don't let students express themselves and they take away our right to learn with a teacher and a patient. How are we going to take care the health of our country if they don't let us learn? This is a dictatorship," said one medical student.
    Police tear gassed protesters after they were pelted with rocks, paint and firecrackers.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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