| 2022–2023 Santa Cruz protests | |||
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Protesters lay down tires and wooden boards as part of a makeshift roadblock in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. | |||
| Date | 28 December 2022 – present | ||
| Location | Santa Cruz, Bolivia | ||
| Caused by | Arrest of Governor Luis Fernando Camacho | ||
| Methods | Demonstrations, protests, labor strikes, and roadblocks | ||
| Status | Ongoing | ||
| Parties | |||
| |||
The 2022–2023 Santa Cruz protests are a series of strikes and demonstrations in the Bolivian department of Santa Cruz against the incarceration of the region's governor, Luis Fernando Camacho, by the national government.
Background
editSanta Cruz, a lowland agricultural region in eastern Bolivia, and the largest and most economically developed in the country, had long been a bastion of conservative opposition to the socialist government of Luis Arce, just as it had been during the thirteen-year presidency of his elected predecessor, Evo Morales. Historic divisions between the pro-autonomy eastern region and the central government in La Paz deepened in 2019 after protesters in Santa Cruz spearheaded a series of nationwide demonstrations that culminated in the resignation of Morales. At the time, Morales labeled his ouster as a coup d'état, and when his party, the Movement for Socialism, regained power the following year, the Arce administration initiated a series of legal processes against alleged perpetrators.[1]
Among those most heavily targeted yet most difficult to prosecute was Luis Fernando Camacho, a right-wing civic leader who, as president of the regionally powerful Pro-Santa Cruz Civic Committee, had played a major role in the 2019 protests. In 2021, he won the governorship, establishing himself as the most politically powerful opposition leader in the country. Having used his status as governor to avoid similar high profile detentions such as those against former president Jeanine Áñez and fellow civic leader Marco Pumari, Camacho entered 2022 in a politically advantageous position, leading Santa Cruz through a thirty-six-day-long strike in November in protest of delays in holding the upcoming census. Arce, on the other hand, faced numerous challenges, as his administration contended with internal strife instigated by members of his party loyal to Morales.
Protests and strikes in Santa Cruz
editEarly demonstrations
editWithin hours of Camacho's apprehension, public protests erupted in Santa Cruz, as demonstrators initiated roadblocks and blockades along highways and streets, both in the provinces and the capital.[2] Minutes after news of Camacho's arrest became public, protesters in Santa Cruz de la Sierra stormed the premises of the Viru Viru International Airport in a fraught attempt at blocking the governor's transfer, forcing Boliviana de Aviación to suspend all flights to and fro.[3][4] In what El Deber described as a "night of fury," mass protests swept through the region, with at least three buildings, including the Departmental Prosecutor's Office and the home of public works minister Edgar Montaño, being consumed by fires started by vandals.[5] "People were enraged," one person told The Guardian.[6]
An emergency Assembly of Cruceñidad was convened by the Pro-Santa Cruz Civic Committee on the afternoon of 29 December. In it, prominent civic leaders determined to carry out a twenty-four-hour strike the following day, a measure that included the closing of all border crossings to prevent "future kidnappings."[7] The daylong strike in Santa Cruz went ahead relatively peacefully until the final hours of 30 December when demonstrating youths attempting to reach the Police Department clashed with law enforcement personnel near the Cristo Redentor monument in the city center. Protesters burned tires and lobbed firecrackers while some 200 police troops used tear gas in their efforts to guard their headquarters.[8] By the end of the day, La Razón reported that the sector near the Cristo Redentor had been transformed into a "war zone," as police intervention provoked more agitated responses from previously peaceful demonstrators and even residents living in the vicinity, whose houses and condominiums were hit by the unscrupulous use of tear gas. "The police gassed everyone, and that annoyed the [locals], who joined the [protesters] and advanced towards the command [headquarters]." By midnight, over twenty people had been detained as clashes continued and fires burned at the foot of the Cristo Redentor.[9][10]
Continued clashes and police repression
editSustained protests continued into the new year as demonstrators persisted in their attempts to seize Police Command headquarters, resulting in nightly clashes with law enforcement personnel in the vicinity of the Cristo Redentor.[11] Elsewhere in the city, stray fires charred portions of government facilities and entirely burned down the office of Banco de la Unión, while in other areas, the regional headquarters of ENTEL and the Prosecutor's Office were damaged by vandals.[12] Police headquarters, however, held as protesters marching towards the building were met with tear gas.[13] In response to continued unrest, Police Command instituted increasingly repressive measures to quell the protests, shutting down traffic across the second ring of the city and limiting the flow of vehicles to just one lane for circulation. Unofficial reports also indicated that foot traffic had been blocked, with local residents pressured to stay in their homes under threat of tear gas, causing concerns over violations against freedom of movement.[14]
In response to police excesses, opposition legislators in both the capital municipal council and departmentwide legislative assembly quickly announced moves to reprimand those in law enforcement abusing their authority and committing acts of violence.
Escalating measures
editThe Bolivian Highway Administration reported at least three blockade points across the region on New Year's Day,[15] a number that rose throughout the week as demonstrators installed new roadblocks across major interprovincial and interdepartmental highways.[16] By week-end, all four routes connecting Santa Cruz to other departments had been closed off, paralyzing interregional commerce.[17][18] The move to shut down access to the interior responded to a shift in strategy on the party of the protesters, one Rómulo Calvo, president of the Pro-Santa Cruz Civic Committee, vocalized on 3 January. "Nothing comes out of Santa Cruz," Calvo stated, "we are going to show the government that without Santa Cruz, without our resources, there is no state, there is no money. They live off of us."[19] Already on 30 December, the Federation of Ranchers of Santa Cruz, a consortium of nearly forty of the department's leading associated meat and grain producers, had announced the termination of all produce sales to the interior.[20][21] Now, Calvo announced that even more local producers had joined the boycott, with ranchers' associations in neighboring Beni also agreeing to close off trade.[19]
Mass mobilizations and counter-protests
editNationwide protests
editSolidarity protests in support of Camacho and against police brutality in Santa Cruz began springing up early into the new year, with the first big ones taking place in Sucre.[22] Within days, these demonstrations had spread to nearly all of the country's major cities, including the capital, La Paz,[23] where the National Committee for the Defense of Democracy announced preparations for nationwide mobilizations against police brutality.[24] On 4 January, civic associations from across the nine departments convened at an emergency meeting in Santa Cruz, where they resolved to intensify nationwide protest measures, including roadblocks and vigils outside public institutions. The topic of judicial independence was also discussed,[25] a subject jailed civic leader Marco Pumari had previously urged protest leaders to focus on: "the fight must be against corrupt justice, against magistrates, judges, and prosecutors who use their power to persecute, attack, arrest, kidnap, [and] sentence innocent people."[26] Regarding the issue, Calvo ultimately announced the civic's decision to oppose the judicial elections scheduled for later that year, viewing them as the root cause of "servile justice" in the country.[25]
By 9 January, protesters in Santa Cruz had entered their second consecutive week of marches and vigils, with national demonstrations scheduled to begin the following day.[27]
https://www.paginasiete.bo/nacional/el-cerco-del-mas-cronica-de-una-estampida-AF5986460
Counter-protests
edit.jpg)
In response to escalating opposition measures, pro-government groups signaled their intent to initiate counter-protests. On the fourth, the Bolivian Workers' Center (COB) declared itself in a state of emergency and announced the scheduling of meetings with other social organizations on how best to combat "acts of vandalism, sedition, and terrorism."[28] "This institution is going to defend the rule of law; it is going to defend democracy ... There can be no impunity for those who have been the masterminds of the Coup D'état in 2019," stated Juan Carlos Huarachi, the trade union's executive.[29]
Two days after Huarachi's announcement, members of the Pact of Unity—a consortium of left-wing organizations that included the COB—met with President Arce at the Casa Grande del Pueblo. Following a five-hour meeting behind closed doors, leaders of the country's largest trade unions and social organizations, joined by Arce, declared themselves in a state of emergency and announced the initiation of permanent mass mobilizations in all nine departments starting on 9 January.[30]
Reactions
editReferences
edit- ^ Jourdan, Adam; Ramos, Daniel (2 January 2023). Written at La Paz and Santa Cruz de la Sierra. "Bolivia farm region blocks borders, grain transport as protests lead to clashes". Reuters (in Spanish). London. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ Molina Rea, Lourdes (28 December 2022). "Vecinos salen a las calles y reactivan los bloqueos en rotondas y carreteras en rechazo a la aprehensión del gobernador". El Deber (in Spanish). Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- ^ Ramos, Daniel; Jourdan, Adam (28 December 2022). Written at La Paz and Santa Cruz de la Sierra. "Bolivian police detain prominent opposition leader". Reuters. London. Archived from the original on 28 December 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- ^ Paz Vargas, Carla (28 December 2022). "Aerolíneas suspenden operaciones en Viru Viru por ingreso de personas afines al gobernador Camacho". El Deber (in Spanish). Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- ^ Molina Rea, Lourdes (28 December 2022). "Noche de furia: Queman tres inmuebles y siguen los enfrentamientos en el Comando de Policía". El Deber (in Spanish). Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- ^ Graham, Thomas (30 December 2022). Written at Santa Cruz de la Sierra. "'People were enraged': Civil strike called in Bolivia after arrest of opposition leader". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 30 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
- ^ "Asamblea de la Cruceñidad decide paro de 24 horas este viernes y bloqueo de carreteras". Correo del Sur (in Spanish). Sucre. 29 December 2022. Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
- ^ Imaña Serrano, Tanya; Estremadoiro Flores, Ernesto (30 December 2022). "Enfrentamientos en El Cristo rompen la paz del paro de este viernes". El Deber (in Spanish). Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Archived from the original on 30 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
- ^ Ibáñez, Erika (30 December 2022). "Se desborda la violencia en el paro cruceño, intentan tomar el comando de la Policía". La Razón (in Spanish). La Paz. Archived from the original on 30 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
{{cite news}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; 31 December 2022 suggested (help) - ^ Estremadoiro Flores, Ernesto (30 December 2022). "Día de Furia; Gases, petardos y fuego convierten al monumento del Cristo en un escenario de violencia". El Deber (in Spanish). Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Archived from the original on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
- ^ Medina, Roberto (4 January 2023). "A una semana de la aprehensión de Camacho, no hay tregua y la violencia crece en Santa Cruz". La Razón (in Spanish). La Paz. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ "Calles de Santa Cruz aparecen como un campo de batalla el primer día de 2023". Página Siete (in Spanish). La Paz. 1 January 2023. Archived from the original on 2 January 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ Delgadillo Pérez, Juan (31 December 2022). "Policía reprime marcha autoconvocada para pedir liberación del gobernador de Santa Cruz". El Deber (in Spanish). Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
{{cite news}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; 3 January 2023 suggested (help) - ^ Arancibia Guillén, Guider (1 January 2023). "Ven que policías coartan el derecho a ciudadanos al prohibir el libre tránsito en la zona del Comando". El Deber (in Spanish). Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Archived from the original on 2 January 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ "Santa Cruz recibe 2023 con enfrentamientos y bloqueos". Página Siete (in Spanish). La Paz. 1 January 2023. Archived from the original on 2 January 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ "Santa Cruz refuerza puntos de bloqueo en carreteras y exigen la liberación del Gobernador". Agencia de Noticias Fides (in Spanish). La Paz. 2 January 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
- ^ Vásquez, Walter (2 January 2023). "Bloqueos y decisión de no vender alimentos al interior del país paralizaron al transporte pesado cruceño". El Deber (in Spanish). Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
- ^ Lafuente, Elizabeth (4 January 2023). "Con bloqueos en Camiri y Vallegrande, las 4 rutas interdepartamentales estarán cortadas; piden la liberación de Camacho". El Deber (in Spanish). Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Cívicos suben la presión: anuncian que de Santa Cruz 'no sale nada'". Página Siete (in Spanish). La Paz. 3 January 2023. Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ Molina Rea, Lourdes (30 December 2022). "Productores deciden no vender granos ni carne al interior del país hasta que se libere a Camacho". El Deber (in Spanish). Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
- ^ Vásquez, Walter (2 January 2023). "Bloqueos y decisión de no vender alimentos al interior del país paralizaron al transporte pesado cruceño". El Deber (in Spanish). Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
- ^ "Marcha en Sucre repudia la represión en Santa Cruz". Página Siete (in Spanish). La Paz. 1 January 2023. Archived from the original on 2 January 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ Molina Rea, Lourdes (4 January 2023). "El país se moviliza para exigir la liberación de Camacho". El Deber (in s). Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ^ "Cívicos y activistas alistan movilización conjunta en rechazo a la represión en Santa Cruz". Página Siete (in Spanish). La Paz. 1 January 2023. Archived from the original on 2 January 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ a b "En reunión nacional, cívicos resuelven masificar bloqueos en el país y rechazan las elecciones judiciales". Página Siete (in Spanish). La Paz. 4 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ "La dictadura de Nicolás Maduro apoyó el arresto de Luis Fernando Camacho en Bolivia". Infobae (in Spanish). Buenos Aires. 4 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ "Bloqueos, vigilias y marchas marcan el inicio de la segunda semana de conflicto por Camacho". Correo del Sur (in Spanish). Sucre. Agencia de Noticias Fides. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
- ^ "Sectores afines al MAS se declaran en emergencia por 'vandalismo y sedición' en Santa Cruz". Correo del Sur (in Spanish). Sucre. 4 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ "COB se declara en emergencia por conflicto en Santa Cruz". Los Tiempos (in Spanish). Cochabamba. ERBOL. 4 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ "Con la venia de Arce, COB y Pacto de Unidad llaman a movilizaciones y esperan que no haya confrontación entre bolivianos". Página Siete (in Spanish). La Paz. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
Category:2022 in Bolivia Category:2023 in Bolivia Category:2022 protests Category:2023 protests Category:December 2022 events in South America Category:January 2023 events in South America Category:Protests in Bolivia Category:Protests against police brutality