Partners threatened in Bolivia unrest

An injured supporter of President Evo Morales is detained by anti-government protesters in Sucre, May 24, 2008 [REUTERS/David Mercado, courtesy www.alertnet.org]

CAFOD urges the UK government to help restore law and order in eastern Bolivia, after ambushes on indigenous communities leave dozens dead

Ambushes by armed groups on community leaders have left at least 30 people dead in Pando, north-eastern Bolivia.

A local partner of CAFOD claims that the ambushes were organised by local authorities, and were carried out by groups including hired killers from neighbouring Peru and Brazil.

The Bolivian authorities have since arrested the Leopoldo Fernández, the prefect of Pando, on suspicion of organising the killings.

Trying to help the poor

The violence appears to have flared as a result of government plans to redistribute land and revenues from gas to benefit the nearly 40 per cent of Bolivians who live in extreme poverty.

These policies received the backing of 67 per cent of Bolivian voters in a referendum held in July.

But the reforms are seen as a challenge by elite groups in the east of the country who are used to wielding absolute power over the lives of local indigenous communities.

Francis McDonagh, CAFOD programme manager for the Andes, says: "CAFOD deeply regrets the loss of life in recent days, and condemns violence from whatever quarter.

"We reaffirm our solidarity with our partners in Bolivia working for a more just society in which all are treated with respect.

"CAFOD has written to the British government stressing the need for law and order to be restored in the eastern departments of Bolivia if development work, supported by Britain through agencies like CAFOD, is to continue."

Recently, in Santa Cruz - the main city in eastern Bolivia - organisations labelled as "civics", which include the militant Santa Cruz Youth Union, took over a number of central government offices, allegedly with the support of the local authorities.

The headquarters of two indigenous organisations, CIDOB and CEPESC, were also seized, and the offices of CEJIS, a local charity, were attacked and items burned.

The office of a CAFOD partner was attacked and several others report receiving threats, forcing staff into hiding for fear of further attacks.

These latest events mirror an incident in Sucre in May when indigenous community leaders who travelled to the city to celebrate the arrival of new government funds for poor, rural communities were taken hostage by a group of masked men.

They were forced to strip, parade around the central square, kiss the ground and watch their traditional clothing being burned - CAFOD partners report that local officials egged on and applauded the attackers.

see also

Bolivia: Massacre, but not passive victims

CAFOD's Karen Luyckx blogs about the issues behind the violence, and how the privileged elite feel threatened by the new rights given to the country's poor

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