Bolivia Reports Normalization After State of Exception Clears Road Blockades

Bolivia's government announced that the country is "normalizing" following the implementation of a state of exception, which allowed for the clearing of major road blockades in the Andean region, including a crucial route to Peru. These blockades had persisted for over six weeks.

Defense Minister Ernesto Justiniano reported that the roads between La Paz and Oruro, and the route connecting the capital to the Peruvian border town of Desaguadero, were "cleared" on Sunday. Military and police contingents were deployed to remove materials used by protesters to obstruct the highways.

Justiniano acknowledged "minor disturbances" along the Desaguadero route, where tear gas was used to disperse a small group opposing the clearance. A detachment was stationed to prevent future blockades. He expressed satisfaction that "the country is normalizing, something we all want," noting that the reopening of the route to Peru facilitated the passage of about 100 fuel trucks to La Paz and El Alto, the most affected cities.

Along these routes and another connecting Cochabamba to the western region, where clearance also progressed, stranded truckers were able to resume their journeys after more than 40 days. In Cochabamba, tensions flared when protesters set fire to a hillside and used dynamite to dislodge rocks onto the highway in Llavini. Police dispersed protesters with tear gas and arrested six individuals, one of whom was identified by a trucker as having participated in an ambush on vehicles the previous night.

Justiniano affirmed the government's willingness to engage in dialogue with sectors holding "legitimate demands" and indicated that the clearance operations would continue. President Paz declared the state of exception on Saturday to end the blockades, which began on May 6 by labor unions, peasant groups from La Paz, and supporters of former President Evo Morales, all demanding Paz's resignation. The measure, approved by the legislature, prohibits road blockades and the use of weapons while authorizing the temporary support of the Armed Forces to the police in maintaining public order.