Bolivian Labor Union Denounces Arbitrary Arrests Amid Protests Against President Paz

Bolivia's Central Obrera Boliviana (COB) labor confederation has reported the "illegal arrest" of five of its leaders, escalating tensions as protests demanding President Rodrigo Paz's resignation enter their sixth week. The ongoing road blockades are affecting six of the country's nine regions, primarily in the Andean and central areas.

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apprehension of five leaders

The COB issued a statement detailing the Sunday detentions, describing them as "violent interceptions" of the unionists while they were traveling in their private vehicle. The confederation asserted that the individuals responsible were disguised, wore civilian clothing, lacked police identification, and presented no arrest warrants. They allegedly used tear gas to force the leaders from their vehicle.

Labeling the detentions as "kidnappings" and an "attack on life," the COB demanded the "immediate and unrestricted release" of the five leaders. The organization also requested urgent intervention from the Ombudsman's Office, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH), and the International Labour Organization (ILO).

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intercepted violently while traveling in public on their private vehicle by hooded subjects, dressed in civilian clothes and armed

According to the COB, the leaders are being held at the Special Force to Fight Crime (FELCC) without any police report justifying the arrest, which the confederation claims confirms the "arbitrary nature of this operation." The Ombudsman's Office confirmed verifying the detention of eight individuals allegedly linked to the COB at the FELCC, including seven men and one woman, all detained in El Alto, a city neighboring La Paz. The office has arranged for warm clothing and food for them.

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kidnapping and an attack on life

The broader conflict, initiated in early May by peasant unions and COB leader Mario Argollo, continues with blockades causing shortages of food, medicine, and fuel. The protests have resulted in at least ten deaths, including seven individuals who could not receive timely medical attention due to the road blockades. Parliament recently approved a state of exception law at the president's request.

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immediate and unrestricted release