US sends emergency aid to Bolivia as blockades persist
The United States government announced on Saturday (23) that it is providing food aid and logistical support to Bolivia as part of its support for President Rodrigo Paz, who is facing weeks of protests that have already led to shortages in some cities.
The US State Department reaffirmed its support for Paz, who took office just over six months ago, ending almost two decades of uninterrupted MAS (Movement for Socialism) rule.
The US Office of Western Hemisphere Affairs reported in a post on the social network
"We stand in solidarity with the people of Bolivia and Rodrigo Paz," the State Department message said, without specifying when or how aid will be delivered "to those facing food and medicine shortages due to the lockdowns."
The crisis began at the beginning of this month due to wage demands, fuel shortages and poor quality, as well as opposition to several reforms. Unions, peasant groups and sectors aligned with former president Evo Morales joined the protests, and several groups demand Paz Pereira's resignation.
Ambush reported
The police and military operation to unblock an important highway between La Paz and Oruro was the target of an ambush on Saturday, according to the Minister of Public Works, Mauricio Zamora.
"We were ambushed (...) because we could neither advance nor retreat. We are on an alternative dirt road," Zamora told the private television channel Red Uno.
The operation, which aimed to allow the passage of food, fuel and medical supplies, resulted in clashes between police and protesters and ended with the reinstallation of roadblocks on the highway.
The minister offered to speak personally to the protesters in order to persuade them to end the demonstration and explained that he was unable to communicate for several hours due to the lack of cell phone signal.
"We saw that the best option was to retreat to protect the lives of Bolivians. We preferred to retreat. We are looking for a safe place. There we will see what to do, whether we return to La Paz or continue. It is a shame that a caravan for life was attacked," he declared.
Peace: "Everything has a limit"
The president assured that they will continue trying to dialogue with different sectors of society, but stated that this will depend on the outcome of the next meetings and reiterated that the crisis is concentrated in certain parts of the country.
"I will redouble all the efforts of the cabinet, of the government, for dialogue, but everything has a limit, and this will depend a lot on the next few days, this weekend, in which a series of meetings will take place," Paz told the Argentine channel TN, a CNN affiliate.
The president stated that the country is "in a calm environment" and ruled out the possibility of it being "in turmoil", since, according to her, the protests are concentrated on some strategic supply routes.
In recent days, roadblocks have spread to regions such as Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Potosí and Chuquisaca.
Paz added that he hopes that "rationality - not politics, not the political position of some, but rationality - prevails to reestablish normality and allow governance to begin."
Understand what is behind the protests in Bolivia
Source: CNN