Saturday 13
September
2008, San José, Costa
Rica
Millions of Dollars for
Bank Holdups in Panama
Espionage Scandal in
Guatemala
Ecuador, Honduras
Support Bolivia,
Venezuela In Expulsion
of U.S. Envoys
Brazil Starts Military
Drill Around Pre-Salt
Layer Oil Fields
Bolivian Government
Imposes Martial Law In
Violence-Hit Pando
Province
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Bolivian Government
Imposes Martial Law In
Violence-Hit Pando
Province
LIMA - The Bolivian
government on Friday
imposed martial law in
the northern province of
Pando where at least
nine people have been
killed in violent
clashes between
supporters and opponents
of the government.
Bolivian Defense
Minister Walker San
Miguel, Interior
Minister Alfredo Rada
and Commander-in-Chief
of the Bolivian Armed
Forces collectively
signed a decree to ban
protests and the
carrying of weapons in
the remote Amazon
region.
During the past few
weeks, violent acts have
increased in the
opposition-controlled
provinces of Santa Cruz,
Tarija, Beni and Pando
in Bolivia.
Anti-government
protesters continued to
blocks roads, occupy
public building and
destroy public
properties to vent their
discontent with
President Evo Morales'
social and economic
policies.
On Thursday, at least
nine Bolivians were
killed, 34 were injured
and many others went
missing in violent
clashes caused by
anti-government protests
in Pando.
The deadly incident
occurred in a village 13
km from Cobija. On
Thursday morning, some
Cobija residents who
oppose Morales' policies
were engaged in a heavy
fighting with local
villagers, using
pistols, choppers and
batons.
Morales severely
condemned the violence
and demanded dialogue
with the opposition
groups, which, however,
ignored his call.
The Bolivian opposition
rightists, which control
large parts of the
country's wealthier
eastern regions, demand
more autonomy and a
higher share of the oil
and gas revenues. Most
of Bolivia's oil and gas
reserves are located in
the eastern part of the
country.
The opposition groups
also demand full
restitution of the
Direct Tax on
Hydrocarbons, which
Morales reduced by 30
percent to found the
so-called Rent of
Dignity, which is aimed
at helping people over
60 years old who do not
have a pension.
The opposition is also
against holding a
referendum to approve
the new Political
Constitution, which was
approved by parliament
last December. |
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