Silence (before the storm?)

10.13.2003

Everything on the Prado's closed. I had to walk to Sopocachi to buy a newspaper. Few were printed today, I was lucky to find a vender who had La Jornada.

There's at least 25 dead and 100 wounded in El Alto from what's being called "Black Sunday." The military was able to escort 14 tanker trucks w/ gasoline into the city, but it's not enough to bring transportation to even a shade of normality. Pedestrians rule the street, most heading south away from downtown as business after business closes its doors. Even the post office is closed, perhaps until Wednesday.

The president gave a talk last night, an executive decree, that no gas would be sold to any new markets until popular debates are held. This was (supposedly) the key demand of the various protesters. Everyone's waiting to see if it'll be enough to start negotations between the COB (and other syndicates) and the government. So far Goni hasn't declared a state of siege, and I think this is a good thing. The ball is in the COB's court.

There are rumors of a coup d'état ... I don't think this'll happen. I pray it doesn't happen.

Posted by Miguel at 10:58 AM

Comments

wow bro. be safe out there. your blog is turning into journalism about the bolivian situation. since american media is barely covering it at all. i hope things get better soon.

Posted by: sam at October 13, 2003 01:08 PM

Yeah.

What's it like going from a relatively safe and stable enviroment to a chaotic state? I couldn't imagine what it's like having lived in the United States all of my life. We have protests here but it's nowhere near to the harshness that you are reporting back.

Also, about your "soft" comment, Anticapitalist can just shove it. 2 dead after the army being shot at is light, to say the least. I'm trying to stir up a comparison to the situation where activist shot at either the army or the police and all I can come up with are examples like Waco or Ruby Ridge.

I may not be a political science expert or a anti-government activist but I know that if you shoot any form of law and order, be it right in principles or not, you will be in a world of pain.

--jake

Posted by: jake at October 13, 2003 04:07 PM