Military and police begin operation to unblock Bolivia’s trunk road

The convoy of Bolivian military and police who carry white flags on their vehicles began a new operation this Saturday to unblock a trunk road in Bolivia affected by protests.

The troops advance slowly with tractors to clean the stones and cement blocks thrown on the route for 18 days by the groups calling for the president’s resignation. Rodrigo Pazwho took office six months ago.

LOOK HERE: Diplomatic crisis between Colombia and Bolivia: what does the expulsion of ambassador Elizabeth García imply?

The operation called ‘Humanitarian corridor with white flags‘ It began at dawn in the city of The Highneighbor of Peacewhich is the headquarters of an international airport and a central point of connections with the roads to Chili and Peru where there are hundreds of trucks stranded for several days.

The security forces are heading towards the city of Orurodistant at 227 kilometers, in around 150 vehicles, including trucks, buses and tractors that advance little by little to clear the route, although the protesters reorganize again as soon as the caravan passes, EFE found.

The Minister of Public Works, Mauricio Zamorawho leads the caravan, announced his willingness to personally talk with the protesters at all the blocking points to request the suspension of the measure.

“Dialogue above all and we are working together with our police and military without lethal weapons“, declared Zamora, who hopes this day for a solution to the conflict so that “the country is pacified”.

The operation seeks to facilitate the arrival of trucks with food, especially meat, to the cities of La Paz and El Alto, where the prices of all products have skyrocketed amid the shortage.

But it also aims to guarantee the transportation of trucks with medicinal oxygen imported in cylinders from Peru for distribution in the state hospitals of both cities, and also in Oruro, after this week several medical centers suspended surgeries and rationed this supply.

From Oruro, hundreds of soldiers and police have left to take the reverse route with the aim of reaching La Paz along the parallel path back.

The Government has highlighted on this occasion the use of white flags to promote dialogue with the protesters, who, however, in some places attacked part of the caravan with stones and destroyed the windows of a tractor, without this interrupting the progress of the convoy.

The agents used tear gas to disperse those groups.

Last Saturday, a similar operation failed in its attempt to clear that road and was only able to advance a little more than 50 kilometers in its attempt to reach Oruro.

That day, the protesters prevented the consolidation of that corridor with violent protests in El Alto using stones and dynamite charges, unleashing confrontations with the agents.

MORE INFORMATION: The Peace Government reports fourth death due to lack of medical care due to blockades in Bolivia

The protests against Paz are encouraged by Aymara peasants from the highlands, the Bolivian Workers’ Center (COB) and followers of the former president Evo Morales (2006-2019) that demand the resignation of the ruler.

In recent days, roadblocks have spread to regions such as Cochabamba, Holy Cross, Potosi and Chuquisaca.

The Executive invited the leaders of the Federation of Peasants of La Paz ‘Tupac Katari’ to find “solutions to problems that are legitimate”, but rules out the president’s resignation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR