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Bolivia declares martial law in Amazonian province

People watch an explosion near the airport of Cobija, Pando State, north Bolivia, on Fiday. The Bolivian government declared a state of siege in the Amazonian province of Pando after days of violent clashes that have left 15 people dead. PHOTO: EPA

Bolivia’s leftist government declared martial law on Friday in a remote Amazon region where at least 15 people were killed in a wave of political violence sweeping the impoverished country.

In a decree, the government banned protests and meetings in the far-northern Pando region and said anyone carrying weapons would be arrested. Officials said six more bodies had been found following a clash in the area on Thursday.

Bolivian President Evo Morales issued the decree that put soldiers and police in charge of the northeastern state of Pando after youths in the territory ransacked government offices on Friday, and following the deaths there of at least eight pro-government demonstrators on Thursday.

Defense Minister Walker San Miguel announced the order, saying it would take effect from yesterday and would ban bars, driving at night, the carrying of firearms or explosives, and demonstrations.

He said that several Peruvians were suspected to be among those who opened fire on the victims from Thursday. Local media put the death toll as high as 16.

Bolivian TV reported that troops had taken control of the airport of Cojiba, in Pando.

The decree heightened tensions in Bolivia, which has been wracked by four days of violent clashes between pro- and anti-government militants.

A challenge by rebel governors in five of Bolivia’s nine states — Pando, Beni, Tarija, Chuquisaca and Santa Cruz — to Morales’ bid to impose a socialist Constitution and to redefine land ownership in the country is fuelling the confrontations.

“In Pando, it’s been a real massacre,” Government Minister Alfredo Rada told reporters, referring to the violence between supporters of Morales and those of four rightist provincial governors, who oppose his socialist reforms.

Almost all the dead were pro-government peasant farmers, officials said.

Anti-government protesters continued to block roads in eastern areas, causing fuel and food shortages in the opposition-led city of Santa Cruz. Officials said protesters had destroyed or set fire to about 30 public buildings.

The martial law decree came as Morales’ government held talks with one of the opposition governors in a bid to defuse the crisis.

Mario Cossio, governor of the natural gas-rich Tarija region and representing the three other rebel governors who have rejected talks, met Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera at the presidential palace in La Paz. A government spokesman said Morales had decided not to take part.

“We’re here because of our clear will to establish a base for a process of dialogue, which will pave the way for a pact, a national agreement, a process of national reconciliation,” Cossio told reporters before the meeting.

Morales, who defeated a recall vote in August with 67 percent of the vote, said his administration was willing to talk with its opponents but that reaching a deal would be difficult.

Morales has angered opponents with plans to overhaul the Constitution and break up ranches to give land to peasants.

The governors want greater autonomy for their regions and blame Morales for recent violence and sabotage to pipelines that has caused chaos in the natural gas industry, Bolivia’s biggest source of income.

Morales, a close ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, repeated accusations that the opposition was following orders from US Ambassador Philip Goldberg, whom he threw out of the country last week.
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