The Government of Bolivia denounces violence in the strike for the Census: "The leaders have their hands stained with blood"

The Minister of the Presidency announces that the Executive will take criminal action against those responsible for the strike

MADRID, 11 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Government of Bolivia has announced that it will take criminal action against those responsible for the protests in Santa Cruz, the origin of the "civic" strike called by the opposition against the Government of Luis Arce, after announcing that the balance of victims is four deceased and 178 wounded in 20 days.

The Minister of the Presidency, María Nela Prada, has criticized the days of "terror" that characterize the strike in Santa Cruz, affirming that the leaders of the protests have "blood-stained hands."

"These people are responsible and those who have their hands stained with the blood of the people," Nela denounced, pointing to the organizers of the strike -- the governor of the capital, Fernando Camacho, and the president of the Pro-Santa Cruz Civic Committee, Rómulo Calvo. -- at a press conference reported by the ABI agency.

Likewise, the minister has indicated that the balance also includes economic damages that currently reach 720 million US dollars (a similar figure in euros). However, she expects this figure to increase as the days go by, until the indefinite strike is called off.

"These situations can't be normalized, they can't be made invisible, you can't just show the pretty face of the strike -- of barbecues, swimming pools, songs and fraternizations -- and not show what we are seeing on nights and days of terror against those who they want to travel to buy their food, to their jobs, who get on buses to be able to work; carriers, union family and many families from Santa Cruz", he has expressed.

In this sense, the leader of the ministerial portfolio has indicated that the strike "is far from being a peaceful protest": "It has generated death, pain, violence, racism, discrimination, human rights violations, poverty and hunger."

"These events can never be repeated, so we will work tirelessly so that there is a precedent, we have presented the complaints as a Government at the national and international level," he announced.

The so-called "civic movement" of Bolivia began an indefinite national strike last Saturday to demand the holding of the Census in 2023, instead of 2024 as the Bolivian Government has proposed, since this registration conditions the distribution of aid between the regions of the country .

The protests are concentrating in the city of Santa Cruz, where the opposition to Luis Arce has greater weight and is the economic engine of the country, where one person has lost his life during the mobilizations.