In a surprising turn of events, cooperative miners from Sayari who had been blocking the Cochabamba-Oruro highway since this morning have temporarily lifted their protest. However, they’ve issued an ultimatum to the government, demanding the passage of four laws by next Wednesday.
Meeting with Police Leads to De-escalation: The decision to lift the blockade came after a meeting with Bolivian Police Officials at the roadblock. According to a miners’ leader, the action aims to avoid potential clashes with security forces and protect families present at the protest site.
Laws at the Center of Dispute: On June 6th, during an extraordinary session of the Legislative Assembly (ALP), four laws promoted fiercely opposed by the government were passed by Andrónico Rodríguez while President Luis Arce was in Russia and Vice President David Choquehuanca acted as president. Government officials accuse Rodriguez, who declared himself president of the Assembly by order of precedence, of “usurping functions that do not belong to him, as well as exercising power that does not emanate from the law.”
.The four laws in question are:
- Law to cease the appointment of judges on temporary assignment
- Law for the continuation of judicial elections
- Decree of amnesty and pardon
- $176 million loan for the Confital-Bombeo section
