Santa Cruz civic and farming groups prepare new measures over diesel crisis

Santa Cruz’s agricultural and civic groups are preparing to consider new pressure measures as diesel shortages strain the region’s producers and deepen tensions with Bolivia’s government.

The Eastern Agricultural Chamber, known as the CAO, called an extraordinary board meeting for Sunday. Its agenda includes fuel supplies and an expanded meeting of the Pro Santa Cruz Committee, which has also said it will examine further action.

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We are not going to do anything else by asking the government or demanding more from it because it cannot solve it.

Agustín Zambrana, vice president of the civic committee, said regional institutions could no longer focus only on demanding that the government solve the shortage. “We are not going to do anything else by asking the government or demanding more from it because it cannot solve it,” he said.

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One more pressure method.

The agricultural sector has proposed what Zambrana called “one more pressure method.” The expanded committee board may also consider calling a Santa Cruz Assembly, which could set immediate steps to address the fuel shortage and measures to prevent further damage to the regional economy. Zambrana said the gathering would not seek to bring down the government, but would aim to develop solutions to problems he said the government had been unable to resolve.

The meeting is also linked to a deadline that agricultural groups gave the government to address their demands, including opposition to Supreme Decree 5676. The decree established a reference price of 18 bolivianos per liter of diesel for large consumers and direct users. The expanded board is expected to hear reports from YPFB and the national government on progress toward 10 commitments agreed on Aug. 17 during negotiations with Santa Cruz’s productive sector.

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Not to bring down a government, but to take solutions from our side to problems the government cannot solve.