Bolivian truck drivers and local transport organisations have called for an indefinite strike at large transport companies next week in protest against the government of socialist President Luis Arce and continuing shortages of diesel fuel and foreign currency.
The indefinite strike, due to begin on Monday, June 17, will include country-wide road blockades and border closures.
Bolivian truck drivers have been protesting for months over a continuing shortage of diesel fuel, disrupting their work and forcing them to spend days searching for a gas station with stock so they can get to work. Truck drivers also blame socialist Bolivia’s unstable economy for making it difficult to obtain foreign currency, making it harder to buy spare parts to repair their vehicles and to import and export their products.
In response to this situation, a group of truck drivers decided to hold a two-day Blockade The Bolivian government held demonstrations on some of Bolivia’s main roads last week to demand a solution, while Bolivian President Arce was in Russia to attend the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Bolivia’s Public Works Minister, Edgar Montaño, last week asked to meet with representatives of the truck drivers, but they reportedly rejected the offer and demanded to speak directly with Arce.
The decision to escalate the protests into an indefinite strike Reportedly The agreement was reached on Monday following a meeting held in the city of Oruro by various representatives of Bolivia’s national and international transport sectors. Said They are “tired” of waiting for a response from the government.
“The nation’s [trucker] “Congress has agreed to an indefinite strike. The government has not listened to us and that is why it has chosen to take extreme measures,” said Héctor Mercado, president of the National Chamber of Transport. Said on monday.
The truckers have agreed to eight demands. In addition to calling for solutions to the fuel and foreign currency shortages, they are calling for direct negotiations with President Arce and the resignation of Public Works Minister Edgar Montaño, National Customs Commissioner Karina Cerrudo and National Tax Director General Mário Cason.
Marcelo Cruz, President of the Bolivian International Transport Association (Asociatrin) explanation The demand for Montaño’s resignation came because he had insulted the people and leaders of the sector he mobilized, local media reported. Claimed He claimed the blockade was the beginning of a “coup” against President Arce.
According to the Transport Association president, the demand for the resignation of Cerrudo and Casson stems from their alleged negligence.
Transport ministry representatives said they would wait until June 17 to see whether President Arce agreed to direct talks, and if he did not, they would begin the indefinite strike as planned.
“Unfortunately, the government has once again [transport] Marcelo Cruz, Head of Heavy Transport Division, Said Local television station Unitel reported the news on Tuesday.
“The recent purchases of diesel and gasoline fuel have certainly blinded us to reality,” Cruz continued. “Obviously, there’s some in the pumps right now, but how long is this fuel going to last? So there’s no structural solution to this problem because there’s not enough funding coming from the government.” [local authorities] It’s missing. What happens next?
Christian K. Caruso is a Venezuelan author documenting life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter. here.
