Bolivia president proposes law to regulate states of exception amid crisis

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz has sent a bill to parliament aimed at regulating states of exception and strengthening the role of the Armed Forces in internal conflicts. This move occurs amidst a prolonged crisis triggered by nearly a month of road blockades, which have resulted in ten deaths and significant supply shortages across various regions.

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The message is clear, humanitarian action.

The proposed legislation follows the government's recent removal of legal restrictions on military intervention in protests and disturbances. The bill seeks to establish a legal framework for the Armed Forces and police to act in situations of internal unrest, guided by what the government terms "humanitarian criteria." These criteria include ensuring the transport of essential goods like food, fuel, medicine, and facilitating patient transfers.

President Paz announced the initiative during the swearing-in of the new Minister of Defense, Ernesto Justiniano, who replaces Marcelo Salinas. Paz emphasized that the core message of the bill is "humanitarian action," particularly in cities like La Paz and El Alto, which are severely affected by the crisis. He noted that various social organizations are demanding an end to the blockades and reiterated his call for dialogue as the primary means to resolve the situation.

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The Constitution allows, under the logic of humanitarian actions, to resolve the very difficult, very hard moment that the inhabitants of both cities are experiencing.

However, Paz also acknowledged the constitutional provisions that allow for actions to alleviate the difficult circumstances faced by citizens. The Vice Minister of Interior Regime, Hernán Paredes, clarified that the bill is not intended to replicate repressive measures seen in past dictatorial or even democratic periods. Instead, its primary objective is to provide humanitarian relief and prevent situations where people die due to lack of medical attention, or where transporters are stranded for extended periods, as has been the case since May 6. The ongoing conflicts have tragically led to ten deaths, seven of which are directly linked to the blockades and the resulting difficulties in accessing medical care.

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It is not about measures of exception as those that were in place during periods of dictatorship or even democratic periods, where the objective was to sanction the population, it was to imprison. Here the main objective is to provide humanitarian relief.