Bolivian protests leave 15 injured 21 detained

[Bacchus39]

http://eluniversal.com/2010/12/30/int_ava_protestas-en-bolivia_30A4914571.shtml

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Protestas en Bolivia dejan 15 heridos y 21 detenidos
Manifestantes quemaron una bandera de Venezuela, intentaron incendiar un monumento homenaje al guerrillero Ernesto Che Guevara, incendiaron casetas de peaje y atacaron las oficinas de la aerolínea estatal BoA, además de las sedes de la Central Obrera y de los cocaleros. Ciudades como Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Oruro y Potosí se unieron a las jornadas.

Protesters burned a Venezuelan flag, tried to burn a monument to Che, burned kiosks, attacked the Bolivian national airline offices, the Workers Center headquarters, and that of the coca growers.

La Paz.- Bolivia vivió un jueves caótico con sus principales ciudades paralizadas por una huelga de transporte y protestas violentas contra un alza de 80% en los combustibles que en algunos casos provocaron 15 heridos y dejaron 21 detenidos.

En El Alto, la ciudad-dormitorio vecina a La Paz y principal feudo electoral de Evo Morales, se produjeron las protestas más fuertes, con la movilización de miles de personas que montaron barricadas con llantas quemadas y apedrearon edificios de organizaciones afines al mandatario, comprobó un periodista de la AFP.

A Morales "así como lo hemos subido, igual le vamos a bajar", dijo a la AFP Patricia Coyo, una lavandera de 30 años que salió a bloquear las calles, en una situación que amenaza con desbordarse.

[Bacchus39]

1. Protests intensify in Bolivia over gasoline prices

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101231/ap_on_bi_ge/lt_bolivia_gasoline#mwpphu-container


By PAOLA FLORES, Associated Press Paola Flores, Associated Press – Thu Dec 30, 9:32 pm ET
LA PAZ, Bolivia – Protests against a sharp increase in fuel prices intensified and turned violent in Bolivia on Thursday, as thousands of demonstrators demanded President Evo Morales' government repeal the hike.

Demonstrators filled the streets in La Paz and other cities to protest the higher prices, which were announced suddenly on Sunday. Gasoline prices immediately soared by 73 percent and diesel prices went up by 83 percent, leading to a rapid increases in transport and food prices in the Andean country.

Some demanded the resignation of Morales, a close ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. It has been the most unpopular measure of Morales' five-year presidency.

Taxi drivers held a strike that largely paralyzed La Paz on Thursday, and protests were also held in the cities of Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Potosi and Oruro.

[Zorro]

2. Actually I think the decision to end subsidies is correct

Phasing in the reductions over time might have been the more politically astute thing to do.

It does seem that Evo may be coming around to accepting free-market competition, though. Perhaps other ALBA members will take note.