ARGENTINA: ONE THOUSAND BOLIVIANS DECIDE TO RETURN HOME AFTER GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATES LAND.

Record ID: 449013

  • Title: ARGENTINA: ONE THOUSAND BOLIVIANS DECIDE TO RETURN HOME AFTER GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATES LAND.
  • Date: 26th September 1977
  • Summary: 1. GV PAN: Bolivian shanty town. 0.11 2. GV: People in street. 0.19 3. GV: Slum building. 0.22 4. GV: Shanty town PAN to lorries through heavy traffic. 0.32 5. SV INT: Bolivian Consulate, Bolivians being fingerprinted. (TWO SHOTS) 0.46 6. SV: Bolivians queuing, some with children. (TWO SHOTS) 1.04 7. GV PAN: Waiting to load belongings onto trains (TWO SHOTS) 1.26 8. CU: Bolivian consul and other officials at desk organising repatriation. (TWO SHOTS) 1.42 9. GV: Railway trucks being shunted. (TWO SHOTS) 1.55 10. GV: Train leaves. 2.10 Initials JS/2055 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 11th October 1977 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
  • Country: Argentina
  • Reuters ID: LVA61ID0B4YF5DG7YQDKDSVY6RV3
  • Story Text: More than one thousand Bolivians have returned to their homeland, taking up an offer for free travel extended to them by the Bolivian government. The Bolivians had been living in shanty towns near the Municipal Airport in Buenos Aires but the land was taken over by the Government for the purpose of building a new motorway.

    SYNOPSIS: Of the nine thousand people who lived in the shanty town, more than four thousand were Bolivians. They'd come to Buenos Aires in search of money and the better working conditions offered by Argentinean industry.

    However, the Argentinean government decided that it needed the land to build a new motorway which will link the city of Buenos Aires to its northern suburbs.

    The Bolivian government in wanting to help its stranded expatriates, offered free passage back by train for those who wished not to remain in Argentina.

    More than one thousand Bolivians took up the offer which allowed them to transport belongings such as furniture and also provided free medical assistance and food during the three day journey home.

    Trucks were provided with the assistance of the Argentinean authorities to take possessions to the railway station. For most of these people it represented all that they owned and without government aid it probably would have been left behind.

    Occupying a key role in the operation was Bolivian Consul Canderon. He and other officials explained the options open to the homeless expatriates.

    However not all the Bolivians chose to give up the Argentinean way of life. About 750 families, or three thousand people, had managed to save enough money to buy plots of land.

    For the first contingent to leave, the journey home marks the beginning of a period of readjustment.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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