Bolivia: Protests break out Nov. 29 following court ruling /update 1

Event

Protests broke out on Wednesday, November 29, following a controversial court ruling issued the day prior that removed term limits for President Evo Morales. At least three people demonstrating in front of the departmental electoral courthouse in Santa Cruz - the Tribunal Electoral Departamental (TED) - were arrested; the government claims they had been paid to cause disruptions and were reportedly vandalizing the building and attempting to enter it. The gathering began around 19:00 (local time). Police eventually used tear gas to disperse the other protesters.  

Related protests were also held on Wednesday in Cochabamba, La Paz, and Chuquisaca. Protests in La Paz were also broken up by pepper gas, in the Plaza Murillo. Further protests are likely in the coming days. Demonstrations by Morales backers in support of the ruling are also likely.

Context

On Tuesday, the Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional Plurinacional; TCP) cleared the way for incumbent President Morales to run for a fourth consecutive term in elections scheduled for 2019, and thus potentially remain in office until 2025. The ruling therefore annuls the “no” results of a constitutional referendum held in February 2016 in a bid to remove presidential term limits. Morales - who has been in power since 2006 - had claimed the referendum failed due to an illegal smear campaign. The opposition immediately denounced the ruling.

Strikes and protests are not rare - particularly in the cities of La Paz, Potosí, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, and Oruro - and can be highly disruptive to daily life. Bolivian civic groups and unions frequently erect roadblocks as a form of protest. Violence, in the form of clashes between protesters and security forces, often breaks out at roadblocks.

Advice

Individuals in Bolivia are advised to keep abreast of the sociopolitical climate in the coming days and weeks and avoid all protests as a precaution.