- Title: Distaste for Morales heightens in Bolivia with new showdowns
- Date: 9th January 2018
- Summary: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (JANUARY 8, 2018) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** EXTERIOR OF BOLIVIAN PRESIDENTIAL PALACE COAT OF ARMS ON BUILDING PRESIDENT EVO MORALES ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BOLIVIAN PRESIDENT, EVO MORALES, SAYING: "The interests that are leading the medical strike are not from within; they are allied with the opposition who are looking to push forward an anti-democracy conspiracy." GENERAL OF MARCH ORGANISED AGAINST THE NEW BOLIVIAN PENAL CODE PROTESTERS MARCHING PROTESTERS CHANTING AS THEY MARCH PROTESTERS CARRYING LARGE BOLIVIAN FLAG DURING MARCH INDIGENOUS PROTESTER HOLDING SIGN THAT READS, "DEATH TO THE DAMNED PENAL CODE" PROTESTERS MARCHING EXTERIOR OF LA PAZ TEACHERS' HEADQUARTERS ENTRANCE TO HEADQUARTERS SIGN THAT READS, "DAY 18 OF HUNGER STRIKE" TEACHERS ON HUNGER STRIKE, INCLUDING PROTESTER, WILMA PLATA, WHOSE CONDITION IS GRAVE SIGN THAT READS, "AGAINST THE NEW PENAL CODE" PLATA LYING ON BED, SIGN ABOVE HER THAT READS, "WE TAKE HEALTH SERIOUSLY; WE AREN'T CRIMINALS" PLATA SLEEPING SIGN THAT REDS "WE TAKE HEALTH SERIOUSLY; WE AREN'T CRIMINALS" EVANGELICAL PROTESTERS IN PLAZA MURILLO (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT OF LA PAZ EVANGELICAL CHURCHES, MIGUEL MACHACA MONROY, SAYING: "This new penal code is worthy of attention as well. That's why we are calling on the Assembly to review and analyse this article, because our bases are going to call it as we see it. Many pastors are calling for it to be repealed. We still don't have an official announcement, but we want it to be analysed again, that this article be reviewed because we believe it runs counter to the mandate of God, which is to go and be disciples." GROUP OF EVANGELICALS PRAYING ON THEIR KNEES ELDERLY MAN PRAYING FAITHFUL PRAYING DURING PROTEST
- Embargoed: 23rd January 2018 01:23
- Keywords: La Paz teargas Evo Morales
- Location: APACHETA + COCHABMBA + LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
- City: APACHETA + COCHABMBA + LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
- Country: Bolivia
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Civil Unrest
- Reuters ID: LVA0037X94PXH
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Riot police fired tear gas at protesters in Bolivia on Monday (January 08) amidst heightening tensions against the leftist government of Evo Morales that is seeking stricter penalties against criminal truck drivers and a harsher medical malpractice legal code, amongst other issues.
Morales has led the landlocked nation for 11 years. In September, Morales's Movement to Socialism party asked the courts to rescind legal limits barring elected authorities from seeking reelection indefinitely. It came after Morales had previously accepted the results of a referendum in 2016, when 51 percent of voters rejected his proposal to end term limits. He later reversed course, saying that while he was willing to leave office, his supporters were pushing for him to stay.
Now other issues have come into play. The city of La Paz is saying it will guarantee international passage of heavy transport amidst a seven-week-old strike by truckers up in arms over a new penal code they say effectively criminalises their work. The striking truckers are organising in response to a new penal code that places the legal burden on truckers in the event of a dispute.
The activism by the truckers is also taking place as Bolivian doctors are well into their second month of protests and hunger strikes over a new law that imposes heavier sanctions on doctors found guilty of causing physical harm to their patients. Speaking directly about the doctors' strike, Morales said he will apply all the available constitutional actions to reestablish the country's health system. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2018. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None