BOLIVIA: STUDENTS THROW STONES AND PETROL BOMBS AS POLICE ENTER SAN ANDRES UNIVERSITY AND CLOSE IT DOWN.

Record ID: 358301

  • Title: BOLIVIA: STUDENTS THROW STONES AND PETROL BOMBS AS POLICE ENTER SAN ANDRES UNIVERSITY AND CLOSE IT DOWN.
  • Date: 21st February 1976
  • Summary: 1. TV PAN Students running and throwing missiles outside university building 0.11 2. TV PAN Police facing students across rooftop 0.21 3. TV PAN Petrol bomb burning in road 0.26 4. LV More petrol bombs thrown into road with students standing around watching (2 shots) 0.45 5. LV PAN Water cannon spraying coloured water (2 shots) 0.56
  • Embargoed: 7th March 1976 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
  • Country: Bolivia
  • Reuters ID: LVA3RFAXDDY8INB61BWXODKEOHAK
  • Story Text: Eye-witnesses reported shooting in the Bolivian capital La Paz on Thursday (19 February) as police armed with rifles used tear gas on students hurling stones and petrol bombs.

    It is not yet known how many people were injured in the incidents, which happened after police occupied the city's San Andres University arresting students who had defied them during a siege throughout the night.

    The Bolivian government -has accused former left-wing President Juan Jose Torres with exploiting student unrest as part of a plot to overthrow President Hugo Banzer.

    There was no resistance when dozens of heavily armed police wearing steel helmets took over the building of the university. The students had been demanding more campus democracy and the release of detained students.

    Interior Minister Juan Pereda Assun said former President Torres, who was overthrown in a brief civil war in 1971, had broadcast a tape-recorded declaration over the radio coinciding with the student disorders.

    In Argentina where he is living in exile, a spokesman for General Torres denied the charge.

    On Friday (20 February) Bolivian miners announced that they would stage a 24-hour strike in protest against the closure of San Adres University. The miners said the university closure was "a bloody slap against the Bolivian people" and part of a government plan of "general repression".

    Police arrested about 300 students after the 15-hour siege but all except 40 were later released according to a government spokesman.

    SYNOPSIS: In the Bolivian capital La Paz on Thursday students hurled stones and petrol bombs as police with rifles broke a siege at the city's San Andres University.

    Police and students clashed on rooftops and in the streets after heavily armed police had taken over the university building arresting a total of three hundred students, after a siege that had lasted all night.

    The students had been demanding more campus democracy and the release of detained students but the Bolivian government has accused former left-wing President Juan Jose Torres with exploiting student unrest as part of a plot to overthrow President Hugo Banzer.

    Police used water cannons with red dye so they could recognise the students that were hit if they escaped into nearby streets.

    Interior Minister Juan Pereda Assun said ex-President Torres -- who was overthrown in a brief civil war in 1971 -- had supplied a tape recorded message that had coincided with the student disorders. In Argentina where he is living in exile a spokesman for General Torres denied the charge. On Friday, the day after these scenes, Bolivian miners announced they would stage a 24-hour strike in protest against the closure of San Andres University which they called a bloody slap against the Bolivian people.
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