A blockade of Bolivia’s default capital La Paz yesterday turned the usually pollution-infected streets into sunny pedestrian malls. The cause - transport workers protesting against the local municipality. A good enough excuse for the rest of us who enjoyed the sunshine and peace and quiet.
Most of the transport workers weren’t complaining either. These two workers told me the strike had to happen after talks broke down. In actual fact it has to do with a complicated dispute between the mayor, who wants to pedestrianise a few more streets and the transport workers who want things the way they are.
It seems like everyone here has been holding there breath since clashes between different groups of miners led to at least 16 fatalities and many more injured. Opposing groups threw dynamite at each other and took pot shots with rifles until the military was called in.
Most media are reporting that the clashes started after indpendent miners went to the state owned Huanuni Mine to demand further access to the concessions. However, this wouldn´t appear to be the whole story. The Bolivarian Solidarity Network reports that the unrest was actually sparked by a British company selling part of the concession that didn´t belong to them.
Here is a good summary of the issue for those interested.
More snaps of La Paz
