Protests and demonstrations in Bolivia grew increasingly violent this week. Opponents of President Evo Morales in the resource-rich eastern provinces are pressing harder with autonomy demands after a recent recall referendum ratified both Morales and regional governors who oppose him. The latest protests have resulted in numerous casualties and significant property damage.
President Morales’ reaction has included lashing out against the United States, including Tuesday’s expulsion of the U.S. ambassador, who had met with one of the opposition governors several days earlier. Venezuela followed suit by expelling its U.S. ambassador, and the U.S. government responded by sending home both countries’ ambassadors to Washington.
The week ended with dramatically worsened relations between Bolivia and the United States and increasing speculation about the possibility – still remote – that Bolivia’s political violence could come to resemble civil war.
Links for More Information:
Analysis of the Protests
- Andean Information Network: Escalating Tensions and Increased Violence Demonstrate Widening Rifts
- Democracy Center: Where is Bolivia's Violence Headed?, Violence in Bolivia
- MABBlog: Bolivia Update
- AP: Street fights, gas disruptions plague Bolivia
- AFP: Gobierno de Bolivia teme guerra civil: The Bolivian Government fears a civil war
- La Razón (Bolivia): El Gobierno empuja a sus bases a la resistencia : The Bolivian Government’s response and message to its social bases
- AP: Evo Morales afronta la peor rebelión opositora: Evo Morales confronts the worst opposition rebellion
- La Prensa (Bolivia): La toma de instituciones en la “media luna” fue planificada: The invasión of instititions in “Media Luna” was planned
- La Razón (Bolivia): Amenazan a Sucre con el corte de agua y un cerco: Sucre is threatened with water cut off and road blocks
Information on Casualties and Damages
- Bolivian Government Information Agency: Violencia paramilitar en Cobija deja ocho muertos, 15 rehenes y varios heridos: The paramilitary violence in Cobija has left eight dead, fifteen kidnapped, and many injured
- Erbol (Bolivia): Casualties Rise to 14 dead as a result of the protests
- La Prensa (Bolivia): La toma de cinco entidades ya generó daño de $us 7 millones: The seizure of five government buildings has already resulted in $7 Million (USD)
Regional Responses to the Protests:
- Reuters: Brazil says it won't tolerate overthrow in Bolivia
- Bolivian Government Information Agency: Presidentes de Argentina, Chile y Brasil hablan y dan respaldo a Evo Morales: Presidents from Argentina, Chile and Brazil support Evo Morales
The European Union’s Response:
The Bolivian Response:
- Andean Information Network: Morales rejects U.S. Ambassador, Citing His Support for Lowland Protests
The Venezuelan Response:
- New York Times: Alleging Coup Plot, Chávez Ousts U.S. Envoy
- The Guardian (UK): Hugo Chávez expels US ambassador amid claims of coup plot
- Los Angeles Times: Venezuela expels U.S. ambassador
The United States’ Response:
- Department of State: President Morales Declares Ambassador Goldberg PNG
- Department of State: U.S. Declares Bolivian Ambassador Persona Non Grata (PNG]
Potential Resolution or Dialogues:
- La Razón (Bolivia): Gobierno llama a prefecto de Tarija para sentar las bases del diálogo: The Government calls on the prefect of Tarija to discuss the basis of a dialogue
- CEDIB (Bolivia): Gobierno acepta propuesta de Cossío y lo invita a dialogar esta tarde en La Paz: The government accepts Cossio’s proposal and invites him to talk this afternoon in La Paz