Bolivia: Union activists plan nationwide strike and blockades Nov. 17 to press government for earlier census

Event

Activists associated with the Bolivian Trade Union Confederation of Trade Union Workers (Confederacion Sindical de Trabajadores Gremiales de Bolivia) plan to hold a 24-hour strike and carry out road blockades nationwide from 05:00 Nov. 17. The action is in solidarity with a larger movement centered in Santa Cruz that has been agitating for several weeks to demand the government hold the national census in 2023. Protesters will also press the authorities to release individuals arrested in recent demonstrations. Organizers have yet to specify details of their actions; blockades could occur at border crossings, prominent intersections, and highways nationwide. Related demonstrations may also target government buildings in urban centers.

Heightened security is likely throughout the country. Disruptions to transport and businesses dependent on trucking goods are almost certain. Clashes involving police, activists, and counterprotesters are possible.

Context

The purpose of the action is to demand that a national census be taken earlier than the government's current plan for a census in mid-2024; certain regional entities believe the delay in the national census is detrimental to their region. The census was originally scheduled for November 2022. The government's recent announcement that it continues to plan for a census in 2024 will give opposition groups an incentive to continue or intensify their protests.

Advice

Avoid all protests due to possible clashes. Plan for disruptions to transport and shipment of goods. Do not attempt to drive through roadblocks; wait for the police to clear them instead. If violence occur, immediately leave the area and seek shelter in a nongovernmental building. Heed the instructions of security personnel. Reconfirm the status of border crossings before departure.