By R. Renee Yaworsky
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America
POTOSI, Bolivia—Thousands of protesters in Bolivia have been holding an entire city hostage for over 10 days. The only roads leading out of the city have been blocked by protesters who have also disrupted the rail line to Chile and begun a hunger strike.
Six thousand miners in Potosi, Bolivia, have been protesting President Morales’ policies, accusing him of neglecting impoverished citizens. The protesters have demanded more regional investment, the creation of a new cement factory, the settlement of land disputes, and a bigger airport. They also want certain mines to be reopened that officials have closed.
“We’re taking this to the bitter end,” one hunger striker said. Potosi Town Council president Remberto Gareca told AFP, “This strike . . . is the people’s answer to the lies of the government.”
The southern mining city has been barricaded by roadblocks constructed of boulders, virtually holding numerous citizens and tourists hostage, unable to leave. Over 100 foreign tourists, mostly Europeans, are still trapped and waiting to be set free. Also held captive are about 500 Bolivians. Potosi is a city of about 200,000 people, all of whom are in danger of being affected.
One thousand people have been stranded a couple miles north of Potosi for over a week. One of these told AFP, “We’re cold, hungry and afraid.” Protesters were holding dynamite to intimidate those held captive, saying they would make an explosion if anyone tried to escape.
The blockade has already sparked a shortage of food in the city. There are concerns about tourists’ health, as Potosi has a high altitude and may cause some people to get ill. Older people and those with existing health problems are the most at-risk.
There have been reports that protesters have threatened to blow up any bus that attempted to leave the city. On Friday, protesters piled rocks on a local airport runway to prevent a plane from landing to aid tourists.
“Our rules are tough here,” one protester explained. “We don’t let any vehicle through. There are 6,000 of us. We’re organized.”
The governor of the local district has been supportive of the protesters, even participating in the recent hunger strike. Also participating are many regional officials, union and farm leaders. As of yet, the Bolivian government has not moved to amend the situation.
For more information, please see:
ABC – Tourists trapped in blockaded city – 8 August 2010
AP – Protest traps tourists in Bolivian highland city – 7 August 2010
AFP – Bolivians on hunger strike, cut rail links to Chile – 7 August 2010
