Santa Cruz, the economic engine of Bolivia, leads the strike against the Government

The Bolivian region of Santa Cruz, the most populated region, the country’s productive engine and stronghold of the opposition, leads the indefinite strike carried out for five days by transporters, merchants, civic sectors and opponents, a measure that for the Government is a new attempt of a “coup”.

The main slogan is to get the ruler Movement to Socialism (MAS) of the president Luis Arce annul the law on the National Strategy to Fight the Legitimization of Illicit Profits and the Financing of Terrorism, which they consider an attack on citizens’ freedoms, and that other challenged norms be repealed.

The indefinite national strike, standing since last Monday, has been partial in several regions although with blockades, marches, caravans and constant councils that have given way to groups related to the Government and the Police to intervene under the premise of defending free transit , which has led to strong incidents.

“Big truck”

A caravan of trucks from the heavy transport sector demonstrated in the streets of Santa Cruz with posters calling for the annulment of the “cursed law” and arguing that the protest is for the “future” of the country.

The high tonnage trucks of national and international cargo paraded in praise of the Bolivian and Santa Cruz flag amid applause from some citizens identified with that cause who maintained blockade points.

However, their intention to approach the city center was prevented by the Bolivian Police, something that generated moments of tension with the protesters who claimed their right to protest, although they later decided to hold their final meeting at another point.

The protest brought together a thousand operators of high-tonnage vehicles from different parts of the department and that according to some of its leaders will continue until the Government responds to their demands.

A regional tension

In this context, there is a tension between the Santa Cruz region and the Bolivian government that accuses its leaders of promoting “hatred and lies” in some popular sectors so that they “support their coup plans,” he said on the eve (Thursday) at a conference. press in La Paz, the Minister of the Presidency, María Nela Prada.

Prada accused the president of the Civic Committee of Santa Cruz, Rómulo Calvo, of “publicly and in open hostility” talking about “overthrowing” the government.

However, the civic leader in a speech the day before referred to the risk of this happening in the event that sectors formerly related to the ruling party such as the miners of Potosí join the protests.

“Stop your hate speech and lies. Govern for all Bolivians. You are a President who does not dialogue or listen to the people and their sectors, who are in the streets against your package of persecutory laws ”, was Calvo’s response to President Arce, who alluded to his words in a massive rally in the Tropic of Cochabamba .

For his part, the governor of Santa Cruz and opposition leader, Luis Fernando Camacho, filed a complaint with the Prosecutor’s Office considering that some police officers have committed excesses such as when they pointed a gas lance at a protester and struggled with a disabled person.

Added to this situation was the support for the strike offered by the mayor of Santa Cruz, Jhonny Fernández, questioned a few days ago for his neutrality in the face of regional demand and who is related to the MAS despite belonging to the Unidad Cívica Solidaridad (UCS) party .

Fernández announced that he sent a note to President Arce to address the demands of the mobilized that he considers to be “legitimate.”

The sectors of Santa Cruz in protest confirmed for this Friday the fifth day of unemployment after some flexibility that occurred these days so that the population is supplied with food.

Bolivia has experienced a persistent political polarization since 2019 that for the Government what was a “coup d’état” and now it sees that the protests of various sectors are seeking an effect similar to the events of that year.