For three weeks, Bolivian miners, trade unionists, peasants, and other social sectors have waged mass protests, blockading roads, marching, and demanding the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz Pereira, whose neoliberal policies have severely affected the living standards of the population. As his first act in office six months ago, Paz removed the long-standing fuel subsidy, causing an immediate rise in fuel prices and subsequent shortages of fuel, increased prices for food, transportation, and other basic necessities. Paz’s talk of privatizing state companies exacerbated the situation, causing, first, miners, then other sectors to protest and demand wage increases.
As of today, according to several media sources, protesters have blockaded roads in 30 locations across six departments (provinces), interrupting the transportation of food, fuel, and medicine to these areas and creating a humanitarian crisis. The government had to set up a special air bridge to get goods into the capital of La Paz, which had been completely cut off. Participants in a “March for Bolivia,” organized by backers of former President Evo Morales, entered La Paz over this past weekend, and violent confrontation ensued. Four protesters have been killed to date and more than 120 arrested.
The U.S. State Department is watching the situation with eagle eyes, and has already weighed in through its Western Hemisphere Bureau to charge that ongoing protests are attempting to “destabilize” the government. Also on alert is the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which was expelled by Evo Morales 18 years ago but has now been invited back into the country by Paz. For the now very unpopular President, staunchly allied with President Donald Trump, blaming Evo Morales for the upheaval is convenient but very dangerous. Should any foreign military or security operations be attempted against him —there are intelligence reports circulating that this is under discussion—the consequences could be disastrous, for Bolivia and the region. He still has a very large indigenous and labor base of support.
