HRF calls on those protesting in El Alto, Bolivia to exercise their rights to peaceful assembly and expression without resorting to violence or putting the wellbeing of La Paz’s population at risk. The government’s response, in turn, must be in line with constitutional and international human rights standards.
Bolivia is going through a public order crisis as sectors that oppose democratically-elected President Rodrigo Paz have laid siege to the city of La Paz, restricting the entrance of goods, including food and fuel, putting the entire population of the city at risk. Serious violent incidents have been reported, including the use of explosives by protesters.
HRF’s Tyranny Tracker continues to classify Bolivia as a hybrid authoritarian regime, but President Paz’s landslide win following last year’s elections opened an opportunity to rebuild weakened institutions. Attempts to force the government out only six months into its mandate put that opening at risk.
