Bolivian police confront protesters blockading roads

EL ALTO, Bolivia: Bolivian police clashed with protesters on Saturday to clear roads and allow provisions into Bolivia’s political capital of La Paz, amid a wave of protests against right-wing President Rodrigo Paz.

Demands for Paz to resign have persisted despite his promise to respond to the grievances of labor unions and Indigenous communities.

The business-friendly conservative came to power six months ago, in the midst of the country’s worst economic crisis since the 1980s, distinguished by acute shortages of fuel and foreign currency and spiraling inflation.

The protesters have blockaded more than 50 points across the South American nation, including surrounding La Paz, causing shortages of food, fuel and medicine.

“We don’t know how long we’re going to endure this… we don’t have enough to eat sometimes,” Marco Cuttila, a student in La Paz, told AFP.

Riot police began operations in the early hours of Saturday to remove debris blocking the roads at various points, firing tear gas to disperse protesters when they tried to defend the blockades.

The confrontation went on for hours, and although some cargo vehicles were able to pass through, other areas were reclaimed by protesters by the end of the day.

In an interview with Argentine broadcaster TN on Saturday, Paz said he was going to “use all possible efforts” to achieve a dialogue with protesters.

“But everything has a limit,” he cautioned, unwilling to rule out measure such as a state of emergency if necessary.