Santa Cruz ‘civics’ end strike in Bolivia but warn that “struggle must continue”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Tuesday night, the Bolivian government enacted the law repealing the regulation against illegal profits, which triggered unrest and protests in several parts of the Andean nation.

“We have achieved this victory of the people, (but) it is only a battle, the struggle must continue,” strike leader Calvo said at a press conference, while stressing that the strike has been “an instrument of struggle” and that “the resistance to totalitarianism must continue with this and other means.”

“We lift the indefinite strike from this moment on and we declare ourselves in emergency and permanent mobilization,” he warned, while stressing that “They have not been able to break a people who bravely defended their rights with firmness and conviction,” he said.

“If they try to again attack our freedom and democracy, we will return to the streets with more strength and vigor,” he continued. “There are other battles to be fought, the fight for our freedom is still on,” he reiterated.

Calvo did not mention the demand for the repeal of another package of laws or the reinstatement of the requirement of 2/3 of the Legislative Assembly to pass laws, also added to the list of demands of the strike in which unions and transport companies took part.

The decision to suspend the strike was not well received by certain sectors and on Tuesday night, groups identified with the Unión Juvenil Cruceñista (UJC) surrounded the building that houses the Pro Santa Cruz Civic Committee to demand Calvo’s resignation, whom they called a “traitor,” and for the strike to continue.

Santa Cruz and Potosí concentrated the majority of the anti-government protests. In Potosí a farmer died as a result of clashes between civilians and farmers, while in the Santa Cruz capital there were several tense moments. Despite the announced repeal of the controversial law, protests did not cease in these regions.

The Bolivian government assured Tuesday that it will work in cooperation with the relevant sectors on a new law against the regularization of illegal profits, the draft of which it expects to have by December.