The top photo is shot from our kitchen window. If you look closely you can see how the road is blocked with tires etc.
The next photo is the front page of the paper, a funeral of someone who was killed during a protest.
There was a civil strike "paro civico" last Wednesday as 6 of the 9 departments (states) of Bolivia officially protested the first signing of the framework of the new constitution. The political party that is in power now wants to make changes, and the opposition wants status-quo. You have to understand that the governors of 3 of these states have run for president and lost to the current president, so they may not see eye to eye...major controversy. Hot topics include; more autonomy for indigenous people, the ability to be re-elected for more than one term as president, land reform, and moving the capitol.
During "paros" strikes, roads are blocked and businesses closed. (depending how close you are to the city center and how you feel about the issue) At crucial spots of transportation, like bridges and major intersections, there are usually crowds of people and if there are two sides to the feelings in that area, there are two crowds of people, one putting rocks and bricks and old tires in the road, and the other taking them out. (Depending on what side of the argument you are on.) And then there are the police to keep the two sides from getting too aggravated with each other. This paro was pretty peaceful, although of the 4 or 5 we have experienced since we got here, this was the most serious in our neighborhood, with the local intersection below the apartment blocked off . Its a great day to get out on your bike as there is no traffic, as long as you steer clear of the hot spots. I rode through one fairly major intersection on my bike and witnessed lots of national police standing around, and lots of loud firecrackers being shot off through large cardboard tubes in the middle of the intersection. About 50 people were hanging out to enforce the blockade? Hard to tell.
So now we will wait and see what the next move is on the constitution. I think if they get more assembly members to sign off on it, certain parts of the framework will go to the people for vote. Or the opposition may be able to continue to block it from going to a vote in which case the voices of the people might come out on the streets.... all is quiet for the moment and it is a great lesson in constitutional reform and how difficult it can be. Just try to imagine if the US were re-writing its constitution. It really is a big deal to change those basic rules that run a country.
During "paros" strikes, roads are blocked and businesses closed. (depending how close you are to the city center and how you feel about the issue) At crucial spots of transportation, like bridges and major intersections, there are usually crowds of people and if there are two sides to the feelings in that area, there are two crowds of people, one putting rocks and bricks and old tires in the road, and the other taking them out. (Depending on what side of the argument you are on.) And then there are the police to keep the two sides from getting too aggravated with each other. This paro was pretty peaceful, although of the 4 or 5 we have experienced since we got here, this was the most serious in our neighborhood, with the local intersection below the apartment blocked off . Its a great day to get out on your bike as there is no traffic, as long as you steer clear of the hot spots. I rode through one fairly major intersection on my bike and witnessed lots of national police standing around, and lots of loud firecrackers being shot off through large cardboard tubes in the middle of the intersection. About 50 people were hanging out to enforce the blockade? Hard to tell.
So now we will wait and see what the next move is on the constitution. I think if they get more assembly members to sign off on it, certain parts of the framework will go to the people for vote. Or the opposition may be able to continue to block it from going to a vote in which case the voices of the people might come out on the streets.... all is quiet for the moment and it is a great lesson in constitutional reform and how difficult it can be. Just try to imagine if the US were re-writing its constitution. It really is a big deal to change those basic rules that run a country.
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