HUNDREDS of trade union leaders, peasant activists and student militants have been rounded up in Bolivia following a government declaration of a "state of siege", reports SIMON DAY. THE CONSTITUTION has been suspended and more than 1000 trade union, peasant and student leaders have been arrested. They are being systematically expelled from their home regions and sent into internal exile. Detention is without trial.
The military have seized all the strategic points in the country - streets, schools, universities and workplaces. A clandestine committee has been formed to resist the repression and organise the protests - street demonstrations. road blockades and the continuing general strike.
National
The crackdown follows an indefinite national strike by teachers against the privatisation of education, for an increased budget and for better wages. Like the rest of Bolivan workers are teacners earn less than £100 pounds a month but have to buy goods al western onces The strike mobilised mass support of parents, students, community organisauons and other trades unions. It spread from the countryside to the main cities. Thousands walked in so-called "sacrifice marches" through the freezing highlands.
Telecommunication workers and miners have also struck against privatisation.
The government action followed a national conference of delegates from factories, mines and peasant unions called by the Bolivian trade union federation Central Obrera Boliviana. The police and military forced their way in and arrested all present.
General strike A spontaneous general strike has been gathering pace zon. since the beginning of April. The Bolivian military are enforcing a 90-day suspension of all constitutional rights through the 'state of seige' There have been regular up to 15 years in jail for organclashes of demonstrators and ising and advocating strikes. police in La Paz. The southern border province of Tarija has Vicious declared its independence President from the central government. Sánchez de Lozada has a reThe militants that have cord of repressive measures. been rounded up in the last In 1985 days after becoming week have been sent to some economic minister he deof the most inhospitable re- clared a vicious programme of gions of the country - Boeconomic shock therapy. livia's "Siberia" up in the In one day wages were froAndes mountains and the dis- zen and the prices of goods ease ridden parts of the Ama- increased fifteen-fold. He deThey are being clared a state of siege when the threatened with sentences of COB launched a general strike. When 15,000 Bolivians marched with the miners for better wages de Lozada used the army to put down the Gonzalo protests.
He is one of the richest people in the country, owning one of the biggest mining companies. He uses his government powers to sell off government industries at knock down prices, directly benefiting from the privatisation drive.
All trades unionists and labour movement activists must demand the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in Bolivia. The state of siege should be ended. Trade union and democratic freedoms must be defended against the dictorial regime of de Lozada. • Send letters of protest to Presidencia de la Republica, Palacio de Gobierno, Plaza Murillo, La Paz, Bolivia. Send faxes to the Bolivian Embassy on (0171) 235 1286.