Fuel and land blockades open week of union protests in Bolivia

Bolivia is facing a week of escalating protests as various unions and transport groups launch blockades and demonstrations against the government of President Rodrigo Paz. The unrest highlights deep-seated grievances concerning economic policies and resource management.

The immediate trigger for the current wave of protests is the alleged monopolization of fuel distribution by the international firm Trafigura. Truckers in El Alto, a critical economic hub bordering La Paz, have halted the movement of fuel tankers, arguing that state-owned YPFB's contract with Trafigura sidelines national companies. This action directly impacts fuel supply and raises concerns about foreign dominance in a vital sector.

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Unfortunately, we have been removed from the service transport contract for more than 50 companies. The companies are claiming their right to work.

Simultaneously, campesino groups are protesting a new land law, Ley 1720, which they claim puts small landholders at risk of losing their property to larger landowners. Their blockade on a key route to the Amazon underscores the deep connection between land rights, agricultural livelihoods, and indigenous communities in Bolivia.

Further complicating the situation, teachers and miners have announced their own mobilizations, demanding a significant salary increase and improved working conditions. These actions, coordinated by the Bolivian Workers' Central (COB), signal a broad-based discontent and a push for greater economic justice ahead of May Day celebrations. The government, through YPFB president Sebastián Daroca, has offered to negotiate new contracts for the truckers, but the underlying issues of economic policy and fair competition remain contentious.

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We are protesting because YPFB supposedly allows the monopoly generated by the company Trafigura in the distribution of fuels.