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Explosions heard as mining groups stage anti-government protest in Bolivia
TL;DR
Protests in Bolivia led by mining groups have escalated into clashes with law enforcement, featuring explosions in La Paz. The unrest stems from a severe economic crisis, marked by inflation and dwindling natural gas reserves.
Key points
- Protests in Bolivia led by mining groups and rural unions
- Clashes with law enforcement reported in La Paz
- Explosions attributed to miners using dynamite
- Economic crisis marked by inflation and gas reserve depletion
- Bolivia has shifted from gas exporter to net importer
Mentioned in this story
Boliviamining groupsrural unionsLa Paz
Demonstrators, led by mining groups and rural unions, have clashed with law enforcement in Bolivia as tensions simmer over the country’s economic crisis, the worst in decades.
On Thursday, small explosions were heard in the midst of the protest in La Paz, credited to miners setting off small sticks of dynamite. Some protesters were reported as attempting to breach the presidential palace.
The unrest follows weeks of road blockades, as miners, farmers, teachers and rural workers express frustration over the country’s ongoing economic turmoil.
Bolivia used to be a major exporter of natural gas, but in recent years, its reserves began to shrivel, and its production has plummeted. Now, rather than being a fuel exporter, it has become a net importer, reliant on oil and natural gas from abroad.
The collapse of the natural gas industry has been coupled with dwindling supplies of foreign currency in the country. The result has been soaring inflation, supply shortages and higher prices.
Bolivians have experienced long lines for fuel, and hospitals have reported a lack of basic supplies like oxygen and medication.
Demonstrators from mining unions take part in a protest against President Rodrigo Paz’s government in La Paz, Bolivia, on May 14 [Claudia Morales/Reuters]
Centre-right leader Rodrigo Paz was elected in October last year in part on a promise to address the economic tailspin.
His victory marked a political sea change in Bolivia. For much of the past two decades, except for a brief period in 2019, the country has been governed by the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS).
The decline of MAS has been credited, in part, to the uproar over the economy.
But on Thursday, Paz likewise faced calls from protesters for his resignation, just as his MAS predecessor Luis Arce had.
Earlier in the day, a group of 20 miners were invited to the presidential palace to meet with Paz and discuss their demands, according to the Reuters news agency.
Ahead of the meeting, Economy Minister Jose Gabriel Espinoza said his government was “open to dialogue”.
Q&A
What caused the anti-government protests in Bolivia?
The protests were triggered by frustration over Bolivia's severe economic crisis, including inflation and dwindling natural gas reserves.
What actions have protesters taken during the demonstrations in La Paz?
Protesters, led by miners and rural unions, have clashed with law enforcement and set off small explosions during the demonstrations.
How has Bolivia's natural gas industry impacted its economy?
Bolivia's natural gas industry has collapsed, leading to a shift from being a fuel exporter to a net importer, which has exacerbated the economic crisis.
What are the consequences of the economic turmoil in Bolivia?
The economic turmoil has resulted in soaring inflation, supply shortages, and higher prices for basic goods.
