- Title: BOLIVIA: Striking police in Bolivia reject latest offer from government.
- Date: 25th June 2012
- Summary: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (JUNE 24, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF MILITARY HEADQUARTERS VARIOUS OF STRIKING POLICE WEARING MASKS PROTESTING VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF PRESIDENTIAL TACTICAL POLICE UNIT, UTOP (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LEADER OF FEMALE POLICE, ESTELA GUTIERREZ, SAYING: "So that the people are aware, we are rejecting this proposal, the very proposal that will be
- Embargoed: 10th July 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Bolivia, Plurinational State Of
- Country: Bolivia
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA4YX7W5BIXSI67UGSJHIPUR8TO
- Story Text: Striking Bolivian police rejected on Sunday (June 24) yet another proposed agreement by the government to end a strike that is gaining momentum and raising tensions and forced Bolivia's police commander to order all units back to work.
Low-ranking police officers declared a strike to demand wage increases and pension plans. They have been occupying various offices in La Paz and other Bolivian cities.
Estela Gutierrez, leader of female police officers, said they would burn the agreement and maintain their strike until their demands are met.
"So that the people are aware, we are rejecting this proposal, the very proposal that will be burned by leader Guadalupe (Cardenas) who initially signed it. And we advise everyone that we are maintaining our vigil," she said.
One group of striking police marched and chanted outside the presidential palace while hundreds more joined.
Striking police also continued their occupation of public offices, with one massive group raiding an office and expelling police officers who refused to join the strike.
Colonel Victor Maldonado Hinojosa issued an order saying all police units are to return to work immediately.
"The General Command order all and each one of the local police units on a national level to re-establish all services that we are required to offer the citizens because that is the right thing to do," Maldonado, the General Commander of Bolivian police, told journalists.
"Some of the demands have not been achieved but we think that the intense work that has been carried out, some of the petitions have been granted within the parameters that the state has been able to provide," he added.
Besides a wage increase, officers are demanding full pay upon retirement, an end to legislation prohibiting officers from expressing political views publicly and the creation of a police ombudsman.
Police say working conditions in Bolivia are tantamount to exploitation, with officers working up to 460 hours a month for a monthly base salary of $188 a month.
A police statistics agency said nearly 10 percent of Bolivia's 33,000 police officers were not completing their duties. However, strikers reject criticism their actions are putting the general populace at risk and say some 30,000 police are still on active duty. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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