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Hundreds of Bolivian Peasants Demand Land Law Annulment; Paz Open to Review
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Conflict & Security

Hundreds of Bolivian Peasants Demand Land Law Annulment; Paz Open to Review

From ABC Color · (43m ago) Spanish Critical tone

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Hundreds of Bolivian peasants and indigenous people marched into La Paz demanding the annulment of a land law.
  • The protesters fear the law, which allows land reclassification for bank credits, could jeopardize their properties and favor large landowners.
  • President Rodrigo Paz has expressed openness to reviewing the law to reinforce protections, but not to repeal it, leading to threats of further radicalization from the protesters.

The streets of La Paz are filled with the determined footsteps of hundreds of Bolivian peasants and indigenous peoples who have concluded a grueling 24-day trek from the Amazon. Their arrival is not for celebration, but for a powerful demand: the annulment of a land law they believe threatens their ancestral territories. This is not merely a protest; it is a social struggle, as one leader, Faifer Cuajera, declared, 'President, you are mistaken with the Bolivian people... attend to our petition, otherwise, you and all the parliamentarians will have to leave.'

Presidente, usted se está equivocando con el pueblo boliviano, queremos decirle una vez más, atienda nuestro pliego petitorio porque, caso contrario, usted y todos los parlamentarios tendrán que irse

— Faifer CuajeraA protest leader warns President Paz to heed their demands.

The core of their grievance lies in Law 1720, which permits the reclassification of lands, potentially opening the door for large landowners and agricultural entrepreneurs to seize the properties of small producers. While President Rodrigo Paz has signaled a willingness to review and 'perfect' the law, rather than abrogate it, this has done little to quell the rising tide of discontent. The Central Obrera Boliviana (COB), teachers' unions, and other campesino organizations have pledged support, threatening indefinite strikes and road blockades.

una lucha social con reivindicaciones para todos los bolivianos

— Faifer CuajeraThe leader emphasized the broad social nature of the protest.

From our perspective here in Bolivia, this land issue cuts to the very heart of our national identity and the rights of our indigenous communities. While international coverage might focus on political maneuvering, for us, it's about preserving heritage, ensuring food security, and upholding the dignity of those who have worked this land for generations. The government's stance, offering revisions rather than outright repeal, reflects a complex balancing act between development and protection, but for these marchers, it's a matter of fundamental rights that cannot be compromised. The tension is palpable, and the coming days will reveal whether dialogue or radicalization will shape Bolivia's future.

Si el presidente tiene la voluntad, hoy mismo podría solucionar, pero si no hay voluntad nosotros vamos a quedarnos aquí y buscaremos la alternativa para poder radicalizar las medidas

— Vivian PalomequeAnother leader states their intention to escalate actions if the president lacks the will to resolve the issue.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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