Latest posts by Pablo Andres Rivero
Bolivia: One Killed as Rival Miners’ Conflict Escalates
The unresolved conflict between tin miners in Bolivia has escalated this week. On Tuesday, September 18, nine miners were injured and one died of his wounds after the use of dynamite during a clash between rival groups seeking to take control of the Colquiri zinc and tin mine.
Bolivia: 4 Injured in Clash Between Miners
Clashes between private cooperative miners from the La Paz Departmental Federation of Mining Cooperatives (Fedecomin in Spanish) and unionised miners from the state-run Bolivian Mining Corporation (Comibol in Spanish) are reported from downtown La Paz, Bolivia's seat of Government. The confronted groups are attacking each other using dynamite. Four injured...
Bolivia: Miners’ Dispute Holds La Paz Under Siege
Hundreds of miners are continuing to block the main access roads to La Paz. The blockade was sparked by a dispute between private cooperative miners and unionised miners over which group should control the recently expropriated Colquiri mine.
‘Diversity Within the Unknown’, a Conservation Blog in Bolivia
Few media outlets- mainstream, alternative or citizen-lead-, pay careful attention, or devote themselves fully, to the subject of conservation in Bolivia. Diversidad entre Pendientes is a blog that offers direct contact with the Bolivian biodiversity, home to mountains and sub-tropical valleys. The blog's author, Mauricio Pacheco, spoke with Global Voices about his work, and the state of thematic blogs in Bolivia.
Bolivia: Former Minister Demands Investigation of Indigenous Repression
Bolivia's former Minister of Defense, María Cecilia Chacón, wrote a Facebook note breaking the silence after almost one year of her resignation. The note criticizes the appointment of former Minister of Interior, Sacha Llorenti, as ambassador to the United Nations, while the repression of indigenous TIPNIS remains unenlightened.
Bolivia: Consultation on Hold as TIPNIS Communities Reject Militarization
[…] the consultation process on the Bolivian government’s proposed highway through the Isiboro-Sécure Indigenous Territory and National Park (TIPNIS) has ground to a halt. Emily Achtenberg from NACLA blog Rebel Currents reports.
Combatting Cocaine Production in Bolivia, Colombia and Peru
Drug production and trafficking is a major issue in Latin America that governments are constantly trying to deal with. However, as the continent leaders gathered last April in Colombia for the Summit of the Americas fully agreed, the so far US-led war on drugs has failed in the Region. Peru, Colombia and Bolivia are the three largest illegal cocaine producing countries in the world. What are these Andean Countries doing to combat illegal drugs?
Bolivia: Radioactive Uranium Seized in La Paz?
'If the mineral found yesterday is #uranio (uranium), the first thing they should have done was verify if it was radioactive instead of calling the press!' Two tons of solid material, presumably uranium or radioactive minerals, were seized by authorities on August 28 in La Paz. The potential radioactivity of the material remains unclear.
Bolivia: New Video Campaign Seeks to Boost Tourism
'Bolivia Awaits You' is the name of a promotional tourism campaign recently launched by the government of Bolivia. It seeks to boost tourism by investing 20 million US dollars in the next five years, which will primarily benefit indigenous communities.
Bolivia: Anti-US Rhetoric Harming its Diplomatic Relations?
Bolivia took a radical turn in its foreign policy six years based on an anti-US agenda giving it more leverage in the region. But since then, changes in relations with key player Brazil and lingering strategic issues have raised the question of how well the country is actually surviving in the regional system.
Bolivia: Athletes Not a Priority at London Olympics
Bolivia is taking only 5 athletes to the XXX Olympic Games in London. A scandal related to the expenses of the Olympic leadership has exploded on social networks and reached the news media. The debate also focuses on the very poor level of sports in the country, which has never won an Olympic medal.
Bolivia: Tensions Rise as Police Mutiny Continues
A police mutiny is into its sixth day in Bolivia as low-ranked policemen are demanding levelling up their wages to the same amount military officers currently earn. Violent demonstrations occurred in the country's main cities, even reaching the square right in front of the Presidential Palace. As negotiations are still underway, Bolivia's cities remain without guard or police assistance for the sixth day.
Bolivia: Police Mutiny Over Higher Wages
Tension escalated today, Friday, June 22, in Bolivia as more than 4 thousand low-ranked police units joined a mutiny that began the day before demanding higher wages. Netizens are reporting from different Bolivian cities on Twitter under the hashtag #MotínPolicial [es].
Bolivia: Protests Sweep Across the Country
A wave of protests are sweeping across Bolivia, affecting at least six of the largest regions of the country. Although conflicts are not initially linked to each other, they have generated a climate of political instability, raising challenging questions for the government of Evo Morales. Netizens share videos, reports, and reactions to these protests.
Bolivia: Development at What Cost? New Conflict Over TIPNIS Road
A proposed road project in Bolivia that plans to cross right through the middle of the Indigenous Territory and National Park Isiboro Sécure (TIPNIS for its initials in Spanish) is once again generating conflict. Indigenous organisations insist on their right to be consulted about policies concerning their territories.
Bolivia: TIPNIS Indigenous March Again
Over 500 members from Bolivian Indigenous organisations gathered in Trinidad, approximately 600 kilometres from La Paz, and began on April 27, 2012, at 8 pm (GMT) a march to Bolivia's Seat of Government for the second time. They are opposing Bolivia's governmental plan to built a road that would cut off right...
Bolivia: Questions Over Murder of Indigenous Female Council Member
The murder of Juana Quispe, an indigenous woman and Municipal Council Member, has boosted the demand for the Plurinational Assembly (Bolivia's Parliament) to pass the Law "Against Political Violence and Harassment based on Gender". Civil society and different organisations also demand appropriate and timely investigation of the unfortunate crime.
Bolivia: Activists Push for Better Internet Connectivity
In Bolivia, Internet connections are among the most expensive in the world. Service is slow and not yet available for the majority of its population. A group of activists is advocating both online and offline for decent internet connections.
Bolivia: New March Against TIPNIS Road to Start in April
Dario Kenner, a blogger based in La Paz, reports that “a majority of community leaders from the TIPNIS indigenous territory and national park decided to begin a march towards La Paz on 20 April to oppose a road project through their territory. This is the second time these communities will...
Bolivia: A Serious Bid to Lift UN Ban on the Coca Leaf?
Bolivia's government is seeking the international depenalisation of the coca leaf with the support of coca growers and others within the country, but faces both internal and foreign challenges.
Bolivia: Disabled Protesters Demand More Welfare Support
For nearly 100 days, a group of physically disabled people held a march from the eastern lower lands of Bolivia to the seat of government in capital La Paz, located 3,600 metres above sea level, demanding a yearly subsidy of at least 3,000 Bolivianos (434 US dollars approximately).
