Roadblock on Santa Cruz-Beni highway escalates diesel price protests

A protest blocking the vital Santa Cruz-Beni highway has escalated tensions over Bolivia's new diesel pricing policy. Producers from the San Andrés municipality in Marbán province erected a roadblock at the San Pablo bridge, halting traffic and suspending bus services from Santa Cruz to Trinidad. Their demand is the repeal of Supreme Decree 5676.

The decree establishes a reference price of 18 Bolivianos per liter for direct consumers and large buyers, while maintaining the 9.80 Bolivianos price for vehicles filling their tanks. Producers argue this dual pricing is discriminatory and has not resolved the persistent scarcity of fuel.

Military personnel arrived at the scene, reminding protesters that roadblocks are prohibited under the state of exception. While acknowledging the right to protest, they emphasized the violation of free transit and the rights of others. Tense exchanges occurred, but the military initially opted for dialogue. A temporary agreement was reached to pause the protest while seeking a resolution.

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Recognized their right to express the claim, but reminded them that closing roads is prohibited because it violates free transit and affects the rights of other people.

This action follows similar demonstrations in Yapacaní, where producers and other sectors marched to demand the decree's cancellation. National authorities engaged in negotiations, leading to a 48-hour pause for the government to consider the demands. Business leaders, like Jean Pierre Antelo, president of Cainco, have voiced concerns, stating that the dual pricing incentivizes black markets and corruption. He advocates for targeted support mechanisms rather than differentiated prices, urging for an urgent solution that ensures supply and price transparency.

The Chamber of Eastern Agriculture (CAO) has called an extraordinary congress today to discuss further measures. The ongoing fuel shortage continues to impact transportation, production, and the delivery of food supplies across the region.

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We share the concern of the sectors, the decree did not fulfill its objective. It is necessary to repeal it, revoke it, change it, modify it, but there must be supply, there must be a price sincerity and it must be solved urgently.