Bolivian Police Clash with Protesters to Clear Blocked Roads to La Paz

Riot police in Bolivia clashed with demonstrators on Saturday, using tear gas to clear roads that have been blocked for three weeks, severely disrupting the flow of essential supplies to the capital, La Paz. The operation aimed to restore passage for food, medicine, and fuel.

As police forces advanced early in the morning, groups of protesters armed with slingshots and firecrackers attempted to reassert control over blockade points in El Alto, a city adjacent to La Paz, and on the highway towards Oruro. Local media captured images of the confrontations. In El Alto, at least two highways remained occupied by demonstrators, while another major route saw vehicles passing through debris left behind.

The protests, initiated three weeks ago, initially focused on demands for salary increases, quality fuel, and economic stabilization. However, the demonstrators are now calling for the resignation of the centrist President Rodrigo Paz, who has been in office for six months. Minister of Public Works Mauricio Zamora expressed hope that the establishment of a humanitarian corridor would lead to the lifting of blockades, acknowledging that some social demands are valid and that dialogue is the best path forward.

Government heavy machinery, escorted by police, worked to remove earth, rocks, and other obstructions from the highways, where long queues of stranded vehicles formed. The Bolivian Highway Administration reported at least 57 blockade points across six of the country's nine departments. The situation has led to soaring food prices in La Paz, long lines at gas stations, and shortages of medicine in hospitals, forcing the government to arrange flights for supplies.