Several sectors in Bolivia are preparing demonstrations to demand that the Government respond to their requests. Unions, transporters and organizations related to former President Evo Morales announced marches and meetings to define actions to demand compliance with their sectoral demands.
Morales’ followers announced a march that will leave on January 10 from the Oruro town of Patacamaya towards La Paza 98 kilometer journey, which they estimate will last between three or four days.
The so-called “Great March for Life” was decided in a meeting in the Tropics of Cochabamba and its main demand is the release of people who were detained in previous demonstrations.
According to those close to Morales, At least 90 people were detained during the blockades carried out between October and November 2024among them the leaders Humberto Claros and Ramiro Cucho, who were taken to La Paz accused of leading the mobilizations that paralyzed part of the country for 23 days.
Reynaldo Ezequiel, leader of “evismo”informed the local press that the coca leader will not participate in the march, but will support it “morally.” The former president has been entrenched in the coca-growing region of the country for three months due to the risk of arrest he faces due to the investigation that accuses him of the crimes of statutory rape and human trafficking.
Three days after the start of that march, another one is planned at the Government Headquarters. The unions of El Alto, the populous city adjacent to La Paz, announced a march on January 13 towards the center of La Paz. in rejection of a provision of the General State Budget (PGE) 2025 -which came into force by decree and without approval from the Legislative Body- that establishes controls and confiscation of food products from merchants, in the event that the increase in prices or shortages of products in the markets is evident.
“We understand that Everything has gone up, but it is not because the unions or producers want to go up.but it is because the issue of the dollar (which) has not been resolved by the Government, which continues to lie that it is at 6.96 bolivianos, but it is more than 12″, said a leader of the union sector to the Unitel channel, in relation to the official exchange rate compared to the parallel market quote.
The protest will also demand an increase in fuel supplies, after In 2024 there were periods of shortages – increasingly frequent and prolonged – of diesel and gasoline.
The provision of the PGE has also caused discomfort among Santa Cruz unions who will have a meeting on January 8 to define actions. The same way, the Eastern Agricultural Chamber (CAO) He stated that the measure attacks the productive sector and the private sector in general, because it promotes the intervention of productive units.
In 2024, the Government took measures against shortages and rising prices of refined soybean oil and rice, temporarily vetoing exports and intervening in rice mills to guarantee supply in the market at fair prices.
He president of the CAO, José Luis Farahpointed out that the controls established in the PGE will have the opposite effect because they will generate speculation and uncertainty among producers and marketers.
These announcements were joined by Bolivian transporters who, although they have not defined actions, plan to hold departmental meetings in the coming days.
“We cannot continue suffering this year like last year,” he said. Juan Yujra, leader of the sectorreferring to the lack of fuel that has affected heavy transport in recent months.
The leaders did not rule out mobilizations to pressure the government to review the measures that would have affected their work. Beyond the lack of diesel they experienced last year, they demand solutions to the shortage of dollars and increased cost of spare parts that affect the sector.
“We are already tired and For this reason, we are going to carry out a national expansion to define the steps to follow.“, he stated Hector Mercadopresident of the Bolivian Chamber of Transportation cited by El Deber.
Another case that maintains tension in Bolivia is the possible arrest of Evo Morales for the investigation of rape and human trafficking. In the Tropics of Cochabamba, his followers have reinforced their security while they await the dispositions of the Justice that has set their hearing on precautionary measures for January 14.
