Coca farmers demand that Bolivian government listen to their concerns

Coca growers from the Departmental Association of Coca Producers (Adepcoca) warned the Bolivian government that it would not have peace if it does not listen to their demands, according to the leader of Adepcoca’s Self-Defense Committee, Rosalba Vargas, on Wednesday, September 28.

“I want to tell the government that, if for Yungas [coca leaf producing region in La Paz] there is no attention, there will be no peace for the government. We ask that they listen to our demands,” said Vargas, while requesting the mediation of the Ombudsman’s Office.

The coca growers are demanding the release of Adepcoca’s president, Freddy Machicado, and the leader of Adepcoca’s Self-Defense Committee, Cesar Apaza, arrested by the police on September 14 and 22, respectively.

The conflict arose at least three months ago due to the operation of a new coca leaf market in La Paz, whose leader, Arnold Alanes, is considered a supporter of the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS – Movimiento Al Socialismo) party, which brought Luis Arce to the presidency.

Article 23 of the General Coca Law No. 906 establishes only two legal markets for the commercialization of coca: the Adepcoca market in La Paz and the Sacaba market in Cochabamba.

The commercialization of coca leaf is legal in Bolivia for the traditional “acullico” ritual, chewed by workers and peasants in mates and traditional medicine.

However, coca diverted to the illegal market is used to produce cocaine base paste.

With information from Sputnik

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