Pubdate: Tue, 14 Jan 2003
Source: Associated Press (Wire)
Copyright: 2003 The Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/area/Bolivia

BOLIVIAN DEMONSTRATORS KILLED DURING NATIONWIDE PROTEST

KAYARANI, Bolivia (AP)--Two demonstrators were killed in fighting on
the nation's largest highway between government forces and thousands
of poor protesting Bolivia's plan to eradicate coca crops and other
government policies.

Soldiers opened fire on demonstrators at a roadblock Tuesday, killing
Romulo Gonzalez, 19, who was shot in the neck, the government said in
a statement. The incident happened in Aguirre, a small town 260
kilometers (160 miles) to the southeast of La Paz.

A second man died from asphyxiation in a clash with soldiers, the
government said. Radio reports said the man was overcome by tear gas.

Tuesday marked the second day of the nationwide protest that has shut
down the nation's largest highway, connecting Cochabamba, 225
kilometers (140 miles) southeast of the capital La Paz, to the eastern
city of Santa Cruz.

Thousands of protesters threw tree trunks and boulders along the road
to protest a U.S.-sponsored, six-year-old government plan to eradicate
all illegal coca crops -the base ingredient of cocaine.

In previous years, the government has suppressed similar protests. But
it also said that its response this year will be more decisive, adding
that the estimated US$6 million the nation loses in commerce daily
cannot be tolerated with the economy in such bad shape.

Under current laws, a total of 12,000 hectares (29,640 acres) of coca
can be cultivated legally. Many Bolivians chew the leaves or use them
to brew tea. Both uses are legal in Bolivia.

Although the protests began as an outcry against the government's plan
to eradicate the cultivation of coca, thousands of poor Bolivians have
joined to protest the government's decision to sign a hemispheric free
trade agreement with the United States. They say the agreement won't
create jobs.

The protests broke out after talks between the government and coca
leaders collapsed in late December.

The government continues to plead with the opposition to resume peace
talks, but Evo Morales, the leader of the coca growers who finished
second in last year's presidential elections, said the government has
lost its chance for dialogue. He said the demonstrations would
continue until the government deals with the widespread poverty in
Bolivia.

Morales said he expected other poor sectors, including the nation's
miners, to join the blockades in the coming days.

Other groups have attacked the government's response to the
protests.

"With these latest events, the government is jeopardizing the
possibility of reaching a peaceful solution to the conflict, and they
will be committing crimes against humanity," said Sacha Llorenti, a
human rights leader in Bolivia.

The United States embassy has not responded to the violence, but in
prior years has praised Bolivia's government as a model nation for its
efforts with the war on drugs.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake