Hivos-partners victims of violence in Bolivia
23 September 2008 -
Two employees of Hivos-partner COINACAPA lost their lives after gun shots were fired at a group of protesters in the Amazone region of Bolivia. Celedonia Basualdo and Bernardino Racua participated in a protest mars when they and other protesters came into contact with a certain group having allegiances with the local authorities of the Pando department in the north of Bolivia.
The incident happened a week and a half ago near the town of Porvenir in the north of the country. The situation in Bolivia has been tense over the last few weeks as a result of a power struggle between the government led by president Evo Morales and five governors who are members of the opposition and who represent the interests of the Bolivian oligarchy and the white elite.
Thousands of farmers - and supporters of president Morales - took part in a protest mars from the towns of Riberalta to Cobija. On a bridge about seven kilometers from Porvenir they came face to face with paramilitary troups from the Pando department. These troups opened fire at the protesters. According to government sources, at least 30 farmers were killed and 25 were wounded. More than 100 farmers were missing.
The governor of the Pando department, who is though to be the instigator of the attack, has been arrested on September 17 and has been placed in protective custody in the prison of San Pedro, La Paz.
Several Hivos-partner organisations including COINACAPA have been victimized by the recent outbursts of violence in Bolivia. The office of Hivos-partner CEJIS in Santa Cruz was attacked with molotov cocktails and was subsequently plundered. According to Hivos-employee Ria Hulsman, no one within CEJIS has been injured. The CEJIS-office, as well as those of IPHAE, Herencia and Progenero, have been closed until further notice. The office of the national indian organisation CIDOB was taken over by groups who are sympathizing with the departmental elites. The member organisation CIRABO in the Pando department has left the office as a precautionary measure.
Bolivia is witnessing a surge of violence after the governors of five departments openly opposed the government led by president Morales. The departments of Santa Cruz, Tarija, Pando, Beni and Chuquisaca are demanding more power, money and independence from the central government. The president of Brazil, Lula, has offered to mediate in the conflict but so far president Morales has refused his help.
Meanwhile, the national government and the representatives of the governors in opposition have agreed to reach a so-called "national agreement".
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