Bolivia farm region blocks borders, grain transport as protests lead to clashes By Reuters

By Adam Jourdan and Daniel Ramos

SANTA CRUZ/LA PAZ, Bolivia (Reuters) – Protesters in Bolivia’s farming area of Santa Cruz are blocking highways out of the province, threatening to snarl the home transport of grains and meals, as anger simmers following the arrest of native governor Luis Camacho.

The area, a stronghold of the conservative opposition to socialist President Luis Arce, is in its sixth day of protests which have seen 1000’s of individuals take to the streets and nights of clashes with weaponized fireworks and vehicles burned.

On Tuesday a whole bunch of ladies marched to the town police headquarters in assist of Camacho, demanding his launch.

On the close by streets had been burnt-out autos, smoldering fires and blockades from the in a single day clashes.

The protests, sparked by the Dec. 28 arrest of Camacho over an alleged coup in 2019, are deepening divides between lowland Santa Cruz and the highland, extra indigenous political capital La Paz, which have lengthy butted heads over politics and state funds.

Camacho was seized by particular police forces, taken out of the province by helicopter and is now in a most safety jail within the highland metropolis El Alto. He denies all fees that relate to the divisive elimination of former socialist chief Evo Morales in 2019.

Santa Cruz leaders pledge to combat till Camacho is launched, picketing authorities buildings and stopping transport of grains. There are additionally requires a federal system giving the town extra autonomy and state funds.

“Now we have a mandate from our meeting that nothing leaves Santa Cruz and that’s what we’re going to do,” mentioned Rómulo Calvo, head of the highly effective Professional Santa Cruz civic group.

Marcelo Cruz, President of the Worldwide Heavy Transport Affiliation of Santa Cruz, mentioned routes had been being blocked so no vans might depart the province.

“No grain, animal or provide from the factories ought to depart Santa Cruz for the remainder of the nation. The blocking factors are being bolstered,” he mentioned.

“OUTLAW STATE”

Morales and allies – together with present president Arce – say his ouster was a coup and have prosecuted opposition figures they blame for it. Jeanine Anez, who grew to become interim president after his elimination, was jailed for 10 years in 2022.

Human rights teams say the federal government is utilizing a weak justice system to go after its opponents.

“We’re now not a state of legislation, we’re an outlaw state,” mentioned Erwin Bazan, from the right-wing Creemos social gathering, saying the costs in opposition to Camacho had been politically motivated.

Others blame Camacho for tensions in 2019 which noticed dozens killed in protests, together with supporters of Morales.

“Let him go to jail for 30 years. We wish justice,” mentioned Maria Laura, a supporter of the ruling Motion for Socialism (MAS) social gathering.

Morales stays the social gathering’s chief although has at occasions clashed with new president Arce.

Paul Coca, a lawyer and analyst in La Paz, mentioned the inner divisions within the ruling social gathering had been partly behind the arrest, with Arce making an attempt to neutralize criticism from Morales.

“(Arce) needed to confront his social gathering chief or immediately go in opposition to Luis Fernando Camacho. And he clearly selected to go all out in opposition to Camacho,” he mentioned.

The blockade might dent meals provide to different components of the nation in addition to exports and development as Bolivia grapples with a big fiscal deficit and low reserves.

“Santa Cruz is the financial stronghold of Bolivia,” mentioned Gary Rodríguez, Normal Supervisor of the Bolivian Institute of Overseas Commerce (IBCE).

The area is the primary producer of soy, sugar cane, wheat, rice, corn, and livestock.

“All this nice non-public productive effort is now in peril.”