06 Nov 2023 | 06:28 PM UTC
Bolivia: Gold miners stage protests across La Paz Nov. 6-7
Ongoing gold miners protest to cause transport and business disruptions in La Paz, Bolivia, Nov. 6-7. Avoid protests as a precaution.
Striking gold miners affiliated with the Federation of Gold Mining Cooperatives are demonstrating throughout La Paz on Nov. 6 and plan to continue through Nov. 7. Miners are demanding several concessions, including the legal recongition of the Federation of Gold Mining Cooperatives of Bolivia (Fecmabol), among other things. As of Nov. 6, approximately 40,000 miners are participating in the protest, many having marched from nearby El Alto, where the El Alto International Airport (LPB) is located, to central La Paz, where they are blocking roads.
The protests will likely cause significant transport and business disruptions throughout La Paz and may disrupt transportation between the city and LPB. Police are likely to heavily deploy to all protest locations, and clashes between strikers and officers may occur, especially if police attempt to forcibly disperse protesters and reopen roadways.
Avoid the protests as precaution. If violence occurs, immediately leave the area and seek shelter in a secure, non-governmental building. Do not attempt to drive through roadblocks; wait for authorities to dismantle them instead. Allow for additional transport time throughout the La Paz area, including El Alto. Reconfirm business appointments. Heed the instructions of security personnel.
The striking miners have a variety of demands regarding a pending court case regarding government recognition of a union, pending tax legislation, and laws regarding restrictions on mining.
