Triptivate – The blog from Triptiv

Road blocks: a regular occurrence. (Photo: tearsxintherain)

Road Blocks

In Bolivia, road blocks are a common form of protest, and usually involve blocking a key road with a barricade of some sort in order to make a political statement. It is not uncommon for road block protests to become the scene of stone-throwing melees between supporters and opposers of the policies in question, and injuries often result. Protests in Bolivia frequently start off with a petition and/or peaceful protests but can quickly escalate in number and violence.

Their effect on you

Road blocks can seriously affect tourists on bus trips across the country. Keep abreast of the political landscapes and any big decisions or referendums which are likely to be coming up during your stay. If you can’t get out before such an event, at least build in flexibility to allow for being stuck for a few days. Do what you can to avoid the areas likely to be affected, because road blocks can go hand in hand with political unrest, violence and tear gas.

The Bigger Picture

Of course, it’s not just tourists that are affected: road blocks can make life very difficult, and sometimes extremely worrying, for the local population. Towns become cut off so that children can’t get to schools, farmers can’t get to markets, and supplies can’t get to shops. With protests known to last for weeks, this can be a big problem, especially from the point of view of food shortages.

Why They’re Happening Today

Evo Morales leads the march for the new consititution. (Photo: Edwin Velasquez)

Evo Morales, Bolivia’s first indigenous president who won a referendum in August last year with a two-thirds majority, is currently enforcing some strong leftist policies, including the nationalisations of key industries such as Bolivia’s oil (and possibly lithium) exports, and trying to give more land and revenues to the indigenous majority of the population. These are controversial policies, creating a difference of opinion which has deepened into something of a political crisis in Bolivia today. There are fears that the shows of sporadic violence may break out into larger conflicts.