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. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake