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World
Tens of thousands of Indigenous people, miners, and union members march on La Paz calling for President Rodrigo Baz Pereira to step down amid economic crisis.
Thousands of Indigenous people, miners, and union members are marching on Bolivia's capital, La Paz, in a mass mobilization demanding the resignation of President Rodrigo Baz Pereira. The protest wave continues despite the repeal of a controversial land law, fueled by a severe economic downturn and fuel shortages that have kept public anger simmering.
"We demand the immediate resignation of this treacherous and incapable government, because it wants to rule us by decree," said a member of the "Ponchos Rojos" organization. "We will not allow that… we will fight to the death to remove this treacherous government… to victory!"
According to local media, all major highways have been blocked by the protests. The long march of Indigenous people is heading toward the capital, and as it passes through each town and village, more people join. A video circulating on social media platforms documents massive crowds advancing toward La Paz.
Violent clashes erupted in the Bolivian capital on Thursday, with police using tear gas to disperse a crowd of miners who attempted to storm the government palace. Protesters responded by detonating small dynamite charges, a tactic that has become increasingly common during the second week of unrest.
This escalation is the latest wave of social unrest challenging the administration of President Rodrigo Baz, who was sworn in as the country's president late last year, ushering in a new era after nearly 20 years of single-party rule.
Thousands of miners gathered in downtown La Paz to demand labor reforms and fuel supplies, but as the hours passed, they began chanting slogans calling for the president's resignation. Roadblocks and marches have brought the Bolivian capital to a near standstill in recent days. Earlier on Thursday, rural school teachers marched through the city center demanding wage increases, adding further pressure on the capital.
The latest wave of protests initially erupted over farmers seeking to repeal a law that allowed land to be used as collateral. Although the president signed a decree repealing the law on Wednesday night and called for an end to the unrest, the demonstrations have continued to spread.
Bolivia is experiencing a period of escalating social conflicts, marked by protests, economic hardship, and political tensions. In recent weeks, truck drivers, unions, farmers, and Indigenous organizations have organized roadblocks, strikes, and gatherings to demand their economic and basic needs be met.
These protests are occurring against a backdrop of high inflation, a shortage of foreign currency, and problems with fuel supply—factors that have intensified social tensions. The acts of social conflict have directly impacted daily life, affecting food supplies and transportation, with particularly serious consequences for the most vulnerable segments of the population.
