Bolivia’s farming region blocks borders, grain transport as protests spark clashes By Health & Fitness Journal

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©Health & Fitness Journal. A police officer takes cover during a protest as part of a “general strike” following the arrest of opposition Santa Cruz governor Luis Fernando Camacho, for whom prosecutors are seeking pre-trial detention in connection with the 2019 political unrest, i 2/6

By Adam Jourdan and Daniel Ramos

SANTA CRUZ/LA PAZ, Bolivia (Health & Fitness Journal) – Protesters in Bolivia’s agricultural region of Santa Cruz block highways out of the province and threaten to disrupt domestic grain and food shipments amid anger simmers following the arrest of local governor Luis Camacho.

The region, a stronghold of conservative opposition to Socialist President Luis Arce, is in the sixth day of protests that have seen thousands of people take to the streets and nights of clashes with armed fireworks and burned cars.

On Tuesday, hundreds of women marched to the city police headquarters to support Camacho and demand his release.

The surrounding roads were burned out vehicles, smoldering fires and blockages from the night’s clashes.

The protests, sparked by the December 28 arrest of Camacho over an alleged 2019 coup d’état, are deepening the divide between lowland Santa Cruz and highland, the more indigenous political capital of La Paz, which has long dominated politics and government disputed funds.

Camacho was arrested by special police units, airlifted out of the province by helicopter and now being held in a maximum security prison in the highland city of El Alto. He dismisses all allegations relating to the divisive 2019 ouster of former socialist leader Evo Morales.

Santa Cruz leaders promise to fight until Camacho is released, occupying government buildings and stopping grain shipments. There are also calls for a federal system that would give the city more autonomy and government funding.

“We have a mandate from our assembly that nothing leaves Santa Cruz, and we will do that,” said Rómulo Calvo, leader of the powerful civic group Pro Santa Cruz.

Marcelo Cruz, president of the International Heavy Transport Association of Santa Cruz, said routes would be blocked to prevent trucks from leaving the province.

“No grain, animals or supplies from the factories should leave Santa Cruz for the rest of the country. The lockdown points will be strengthened,” he said.

“Lawless State”

Morale and allies – including current President Arce – say his ouster was a coup and have prosecuted opposition figures they blame. Jeanine Anez, who became interim president after he was ousted, was jailed for 10 years in 2022.

Human rights groups say the government is using a weak judicial system to crack down on its opponents.

“We are no longer a rule of law, we are a lawless state,” said Erwin Bazan of the right-wing Creemos party, saying the charges against Camacho were politically motivated.

Others blame Camacho for tensions in 2019 that saw dozens killed in protests, including Morales supporters.

“Leave him in prison for 30 years. We want justice,” said Maria Laura, a supporter of the ruling Movement for Socialism (MAS) party.

Morales remains the leader of the party, although there have been intermittent conflicts with new President Arce.

Paul Coca, a lawyer and analyst in La Paz, said internal divisions in the ruling party were partly behind the arrest, with Arce trying to neutralize Morales’ criticism.

“(Arce) had to face his party leader or face Luis Fernando Camacho directly. And he obviously chose to do everything against Camacho,” he said.

The blockade could affect food supplies in other parts of the country, as well as exports and growth as Bolivia struggles with a large budget deficit and low reserves.

“Santa Cruz is the economic powerhouse of Bolivia,” said Gary Rodríguez, general manager of the Bolivian Institute of Foreign Trade (IBCE).

The region is the main producer of soy, sugar cane, wheat, rice, corn and livestock.

“All this great private productive effort is now in jeopardy.”