Bolivia: Students threaten to radicalize protests /update 1

Event

Students at the Public University of El Alto (Universidad Pública de El Alto; UPEA) threatened to “radicalize” their ongoing protest movement if the government does not address their demands by Thursday, May 31. Student protests taking place in El Alto - home to the country’s main international airport - already intensified following the May 24 death of a student protestor, killed during clashes with police on the UPEA campus. Further associated protests are to be anticipated May 30 and in the coming days in El Alto, as well as in other Bolivian cities (La Paz, Cochabamba, etc.).

Context

The student was killed on May 24 during a demonstration calling for an increased budget for the UPEA. Government officials have called for talks with the administrators of the country’s public universities to resolve the conflict.

Bolivian civic groups and unions frequently erect roadblocks as a form of protest. The country's mountainous terrain means that few roads exist to connect major cities and therefore roadblocks serve as especially effective bargaining tools in negotiations. Violence at roadblocks is not rare.

Advice

Individuals in Bolivia are advised to monitor the situation, avoid the UPEA campus and all demonstrations due to the risk of violence, and adhere to any instructions issued by the local authorities.