Bolivia: Opposition Region Protests to Demand Population Census

The Bolivian Department of Santa Cruzeconomic locomotive of bolivia and governed by the opposition, was paralyzed this Saturday at the beginning of an indefinite protest to demand the leftist government of the president louis arce advance a population census set for 2024 by a year.

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The city of Santa Cruzwith almost 2 million inhabitants and capital of the region of the same name, exhibited its empty streets and avenueswith crossroads blocked with stones, sticks and promontories of earth, confirmed the AFP.

Although the center seemed calm, in some neighborhoods street clashes were reported between neighbors who support the protests and others who demanded the free movement of transport and people.

In addition, videos emerged on social networks of strong street clashes among civilians in the town of Puerto Quijarrobordering with Brazil and about 20,000 inhabitants.

The incidents, according to the images, show neighbors clashing with stones, sticks and firecrackers. There is even mention of a deceased, but there is no official confirmation.

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The right-wing governor of Santa Cruz, Luis Fernando Camachopointed out in a first evaluation that “It is unfortunate, unfortunately we had said it, the hauling [traslado] of people, obviously it generates violence.”

Camacho alleged that the ruling party transferred people from other regions of the country to counteract the force of the blocks.

“I think that what we are experiencing is the result of the intransigence of the government”, said Camacho, a key player in the resignation of the indigenous president Evo Morales in 2019 after 14 years in power.

Santa Cruz resolved the protests more than two weeks ago. The departmental civic committee, a civil and business conglomerate, urges the government to decree a census next year, used as a basis in bolivia for the distribution of seats in Congress and public financial resources according to the distribution of the population.

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Santa Cruzthe most populous department of boliviaaccess economic resources and are assigned deputies in the Congress based on a census from more than 10 years ago, but alleges that the data is out of date and that more corresponds to him.

The government has indicated that there is no technical conditions for a census in 2023, but for 2024.

The executive branch has requested dialogue to the civic committeewhich could start in the next few hours.

Source: Elcomercio

Ronald Payne

I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.