/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/26V6V6IGZVP73IMYH6S3VAPKKE.jpg)
SANTA CRUZ/LA PAZ, Bolivia, Jan 2 (Reuters) – Protesters in Bolivia’s agricultural region of Santa Cruz block highways out of the province, threatening to block inland transportation of grain and food, as anger simmers after the arrest of local governor Luis Camacho.
The region, stronghold of the conservative opposition to socialist President Luis Arce, is in its sixth day of protests that have seen thousands take to the streets and nights of clashes with armed fireworks and cars set on fire.
On Tuesday, hundreds of women marched to city police headquarters to support Camacho and demand his release.
In nearby streets there were burned vehicles, smoldering fires and blockages resulting from the nighttime clashes.
The protests, sparked by Dec. The Dec. 28 arrest of Camacho following an alleged 2019 coup deepens divisions between the Santa Cruz Lowlands and the Highlands, the more indigenous political capital of La Paz, that have long confronted politics and public funds.
Camacho was seized by special police forces, flown out of the province by helicopter and is now in a maximum security prison in the mountainous town of El Alto. He denies all charges related to the controversial dismissal of former socialist leader Evo Morales in 2019.
Santa Cruz leaders pledge to fight until Camacho is freed, taking over government buildings and stopping grain transportation. There are also calls for a federal system giving the city more autonomy and public funds.
“We have a mandate from our assembly that nothing leaves Santa Cruz and that’s what we’re going to do,” said Romulo Calvo, leader of the powerful civic group Pro Santa Cruz.
Marcelo Cruz, president of the Santa Cruz International Heavy Transport Association, said roads were blocked so no trucks could leave the province.
“No grain, animals or supplies from factories should leave Santa Cruz for the rest of the country. Blocking points are being tightened,” he said.
“OUTLAW STATE”
[1/11] Riot police confront protesters as protests following the arrest of Santa Cruz Governor and right-wing opposition leader Luis Fernando Camacho over an alleged 2019 coup continue in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, January 2, 2023. REUTERS / Agustin Marcarian
Morales and his allies – including current President Arce – say his ouster was a coup and have sued opposition figures they blame. Jeanine Anez, who became interim president after her dismissal, was imprisoned for 10 years in 2022.
Human rights groups say the government is using a weak judiciary to prosecute opponents.
“We are no longer a state of law, we are an outlaw state,” said Erwin Bazan of the right-wing Creemos party, saying the charges against Camacho were politically motivated.
Others blame Camacho for tensions in 2019 that left dozens dead in protests, including Morales supporters.
“Let him go to jail for 30 years. We want justice,” said Maria Laura, a supporter of the ruling Movement for Socialism (MAS) party.
Morales remains the leader of the party although he has clashed at times with new President Arce.
Paul Coca, a lawyer and analyst in La Paz, said internal divisions within the ruling party were partly behind the arrest, with Arce trying to neutralize criticism of Morales.
“(Arce) had to face his party leader or directly oppose Luis Fernando Camacho. And he obviously chose to go all out against Camacho,” he said.
The blockade could harm food supplies to other parts of the country as well as exports and growth as Bolivia struggles with a large budget deficit and low reserves.
“Santa Cruz is Bolivia’s economic stronghold,” said Gary Rodríguez, director general of the Bolivian Institute of Foreign Trade (IBCE).
The region is the main producer of soybeans, sugar cane, wheat, rice, corn and cattle.
“All this great private productive effort is now in jeopardy.”
Reporting by Adam Jordan and Daniel Ramos; Additional reporting by Monica Machicao, editing by Angus MacSwan
Our standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
0 Comments