- Title: Chilean customs agents' strike leaves thousands of truck drivers stranded
- Date: 29th May 2017
- Summary: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (MAY 29, 2017) (REUTERS) GENERAL OF GOVERNMENT PALACE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MINISTER OF THE PRESIDENCY, RENE MARTINEZ, SAYING: "If this is not resolved, it will be denounced on the request of our companions, the drivers, for the violation of fundamental human rights, added to the mistreatment, the discrimination and the failure of Chilean authorities to comply with international rules, which is generating not only damage for the drivers, but also in parallel, a damage to the economy in large part for slowing down the normal fluidity of Bolivian foreign trade."
- Embargoed: 12th June 2017 19:52
- Keywords: truck drivers stranded border crossing trade
- Location: TAMBO QUEMADO, COCHABAMBA AND LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
- City: TAMBO QUEMADO, COCHABAMBA AND LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
- Country: Bolivia
- Topics: Government/Politics,International Trade
- Reuters ID: LVA0026IW5OOZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Bolivian authorities on Monday (May 29) accused Chile of violating the human rights of thousands of truck drivers stranded high in the Andes mountains without access to food and basic goods, after striking Chilean customs agents have effectively closed the border crossing.
The Bolivian government distributed food and water to the approximately 1,500 drivers on the Bolivian side of the border and sent additional aid to the approximately 1,000 drivers stranded on the Chilean side.
Bolivian president Evo Morales said the lack of access to food amounted to aggression of a humanitarian nature, whilst cutting off trade was an economical attack.
Bolivian Minister of the Presidency, Rene Martinez, said if the issue was not resolved, Bolivia would denounce a violation of human rights on the part of the Chilean authorities, at the request of Bolivian drivers.
According to Bolivian government officials, only 3-4 trucks are getting through per hour and Chile has refused to allow vendors to sell drivers food and has refused to allow two ambulances cross.
The strike over salary measures began on Wednesday (May 24).
Bolivian industry representatives estimate the daily losses to be approximately 11 million dollars, according to the Conferedations of Bolivian Private Businesses (CEPB).
Bolivia lost its Pacific Coast after the War of the Pacific. The Treaty of 1904 established that Chile would allow Bolivia to cross its territory for trade access. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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