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Bolivia--Protests in Cochabamba

category bolivia / peru / ecuador / chile | community struggles | news report author Tuesday February 20, 2007 02:00author by Freedom

from FREEDOM, January 27, 2007, page 2

The streets of Cochabamba were once again the scene of clashes between social movemenents and supporters of the unpopular mayor.

Bolivia--Protests in Cochabamba

from FREEDOM, January 27, 2007, page 2

The streets of Cochabamba were once again the scene of clashes between social movemenents and supporters of the unpopular mayor. Peasants, natives, cocaleros (coca leaf growers) and independent groups have been protesting since the beginning of the week demanding the renunciation of mayor Manfred Reyes Vila. After violent repression during a march on Monday, the movements remained in the central square (14th September) for a vigil. Vigils are also being held in other squares in the central area.

On Thursday 11th January, a march of the mayor's supporters penetrated the police blockade in the centre of the city and struck tens of demonstrators of the social movements with baseball bats, sticks, firearms and knives in an attempt to resume control of the square where city hall is located. The police advanced using tear gas, which provoked violent clashes. The number of injured people grows. So far there are around 115 injured and two dead: cocalero Nicomedes Gutierrez of the Chimore Central was killed by a gunshot and Cristian Urresty, of the group Youths for Democracy, was killed by strangulation.

Manfred, the mayor, abandoned Cochabamba the same morning the clash was announced, and took refuge in a hotel in La Paz. That afternoon, during the confrontations, a meeting was carried out with the mayor's allies in the cities Benji, Tarija, Santa Cruz, La Paz and Cochabamba. They agreed they would not establish a dialogue with the federal government and they would carry out actions in solidarity with the Cochabamba mayor. That night, the federal government announced that during the clash three people were detained with firearm, all connected to the Civic Committee of Cochabamba and that the "intolerance and lack of negotiations" on the part of Manfred resulted in the serious social conflict.

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