Todo es mierda

02.13.2003

I've been too busy to keep up w/ the Bolivian news. And usually nothing really remarkable happens (aside from the incessant protests from coca growers). Yesterday, however, there was a major protest that ended in 15 dead and at least 73 wounded. It was horrible.

The government announced a tax increase, necessary to balance the budget. The police has been upset for some time, demanding a pay increase. The elite riot police mutinied, taking most of their equipment w/ them (i.e. machine guns, bullet proof gear, etc.). The government called on the army to restore order. (If you read Spanish, read the articles in La Razón).

The protesters (including a contingent of middle schoolers) descended on the capital's main plaza (Plaza Murillo) demanding pay raises -- and the president's resignation. The mutinied police took the vanguard.

By the end, a gunfight broke between the army and police mutineers (the army eventually won). But not before rioters set fire to the offices of the vice presidency and Ministry of Labor (destroying all the ministry's documents and files). Looting continues throughout the capital.

As far as I know, everyone in my family is safe. I'm not sure what this means for Bolivia, politically. It's the worse political crisis since, well, since a long time. I don't think it's necessarily a setback for democracy ... but it just might.

Posted by Miguel at 07:04 PM