Bolivia's Gas War Protests

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In September and early October, road blockades, protests, and strikes gained momentum across Bolivia as new sectors entered the movement against the exportation of the country’s gas to the U.S. 

On Monday, September 29, Bolivia’s labor union, COB, called a national strike against the exportation of the country’s gas. COB leaders also demanded President Sánchez de Lozada’s resignation. Though extensive protests and strikes in La Paz and, to a lesser degree, in other cities, the demands from various sectors differed as much as their methods of protest. Some marched demanding better wages; others went on hunger strikes until local political leaders were released from jail. Some blockaded roads to end coca eradication laws, while others protested against the ALCA free trade agreement. One chant was present everywhere, “el gas no se vende” (the gas is not for sale). 

Solving Economic Problems? 

Historically, Bolivia has been rich in natural resources such as gold, tin, and coal, all of which were exported out of the country by foreign companies that made enormous profits while Bolivia struggled on. In the recent gas war, many Bolivians are trying to make sure that history does not repeat itself. 

However, many U.S. energy companies are pressuring Bolivia with trade agreements for the gas. Furthermore, the Bolivian government is more anxious for the deal to go through than the U.S. investors are; they see it as the solution to all the country’s economic problems. Yet, the agreement with the U.S. investors states that only 18 percent of the future profits from the exportation of the gas will go to Bolivia. Instead of creating solutions for the country, so far, the gas issue has only created greater conflict. 

When commenting on the social unrest dividing Bolivia, President de Lozada said to reporters, “These problems and difficulties are born of what I consider a very radical group in Bolivian society that believes they can govern from the streets and not from Congress or the institutions” (BBC, 10/1/03). 

But the Bolivian government leaves the people no other choice. The traditional political parties in the government are more concerned with conserving their own power than representing the views of the opposition and citizens in the country. In a recent meeting over congressional appointments, traditional party members fought over key posts in the state house while opposition parties, such as MAS and MIP, were left waiting in Congress for over 12 hours without being able to take part in the meeting. Although social unrest increased daily, legislators spent months bickering over party control of appointments, such as that of the Human Rights Ombudsperson. Protesting sectors, such as coca growers and campesinos, as well as the political parties that represent them, have stated that if the previous Ombudsperson, Ana Maria Romero de Campero is not re-elected, mobilizations will multiply. 

These procedures have pushed a discontented populace to direct action. The government appears unable and unwilling to address this social unrest, creating the possibility for renewed military and police excessive use of force, which provoked six deaths in Warisata on September 20. 

But after the violent events in Warisata, confrontations between security forces and people blockading roads and urban protestors have not resulted in any further deaths. There have been numerous deten- tions, mistreatment of protesters, and some injuries. 

Divisions Deepen 

The conflict in Warisata caused campesinos and government officials to become even more entrenched in their positions. Felipe Quispe, campesino leader, has stated that he will not participate in dialogue with the government until the military withdraws from blockaded areas. The government refuses to negotiate with Quispe because they believe he is not representative of the campesino movement, although he is leading the most intense road blockade campaign in the country. 

In the meantime, coca farmers in the Yungas region began blockading roads on October 2. Coca grower representatives from the Chapare region, including Evo Morales, have suggested that there may be more blockades. So far, this group and the Movement Towards Socialism Party (MAS) have focused on demanding the re-election of Romero de Campero. Chapare coca growers also protest the persecution of their leaders, most recently the terrorism charges against MAS councilperson, Juana Quispe. 

During the September 29 protests in La Paz, Jorge Alvarado, a MAS representative, said, “The gas should be used for the progress of the country, to benefit Bolivians and not simply be sold in favor to other countries. Now is the time for the current government to listen to great majority of the country, to wake up from their lethargy and begin to realize that the gas should be used for national development” (El Diario, 10/1/03). However, sectors in favor of the exportation maintain that even if the gas remains in Bolivia, there is not enough money to industrialize it and that the only way to profit from the natural resource is to export it now. 

A History of Protest 

In the water wars of 2000 and the riots against a proposed income tax in February 2003, grassroots protests overturned unpopular policy in Bolivia. Three years ago, opposition groups in Cochabamba kicked out foreign investors that had privatized the region’s water. In February 2003, during a series of riots and national protests, the Bolivian public rejected an income tax that was proposed by the government and recommended by the IMF. 

The pressing question in Bolivia now is will the movement against the exportation of Bolivia’s gas be similarly successful? The Interim Human Rights Ombudsperson, Carmen Beatriz Ruiz, warned that “If the parties in conflict do not begin dialogue, the situation will spin of control at any moment” (La Prensa, 10/3/03). Meanwhile, the largest natural gas reserves in Latin America sit, waiting. 

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Benjamin Dangl works for the Andean Information Network in Cochabamba, Bolivia. To receive updates contact: paz@albatros.cnb.net