Bolivia

Protests continue after cabinet reshuffle

Article published on the 2008-09-10 Latest update 2008-09-10 12:56 TU

Protesters burn items belonging to the state office during a strike in Santa Cruz
(Photo: Reuters)

Demonstrators took over the airport and civic buildings in Bolivia's Santa Cruz state on a third week of protests against the government of President Evo Morales in five of the country's nine provinces.

The buildings occupied included the tax office, agrarian reform centres and buildings that housed public audiovisual companies. The Minister for the Interior, Alfredo Rada described the protests as "anti-democratic".

Reporter Reza Nourmamode told RFI's French service that incidents also occured in Tarija, Beni and Pando and that access to Santa Cruz is expected to be cut off by government supporters.

A Bolivian demonstrator sits in a state office during a strike in Santa Cruz
(Photo: Reuters)

President Morales on Monday announced a fifth cabinet reshuffle, changing the hydrocarbon, health, rural development, planning and   small business portfolios.

On Tuesday a Franco-Brazilian company in charge of a gas distribution plant in Villamontes said it had been taken over by activists. The company said however that gas supplies to Brazil were not being affected. Trucks carrying gas and diesel to Argentina and Paraguay have been stopped on roads in the east of the country.

Opposition to Morales's plans to change the constitution is coming both from regional governors and the National Electoral Court, which last week overruled Morales's attempt to call a referendum for early December. It said Congress could call a plebiscite but not the president.

Some Bolivian regions are opposing Morales's plans to nationalise companies, reduce large landholdings and redistribute the country's wealth. A referendum in August supported the president but left him without sufficient backing to put through his reforms.