Mayo 26, 2005
Embedded With the Marches
After a week-long back and forth struggle between police and groups of marchers who tried to enter Plaza Murillo and literally shut it down, most of the groups have decided to take a break. They will wait until Tuesday to see what Congress does as it reconvenes to decide on the Constituent Assembly and Referendum on Autonomies. Supporters for both issues are pushing for a definite date.
As more and more media focuses on Bolivia, documentation of what happens in these marches are coming to light.
One source of firsthand information comes from Narco News. This is another very important source of information that one needs to draw on to get the complete picture. Their correspondents have very good access and connections within the social sectors in Bolivia. However, I find it troubling to continue to see a romanticizing of these marches, but in actuality these articles show the awful truth of these street protests.
From Jean Friedsky:
As the march strategically segmented itself to encircle all sides of the police guarded Plaza, sexagenarian campesino women ran ahead, whipping everything in their path: taxis, mini-buses and the occasional street vendor unfortunate enough to have been still operating in the vicinity. Rocks followed, shattering the windows of the transportation vehicles that couldn't maneuver out fast enough.
It is amazing to see the blame placed on vendors who are still trying to earn a living and vehicles that couldn't get out of the way.
From Luis Gomez:
The police then covered every street leading to the center of power. At one block from the plaza, at least fifty riot police – armed with gas grenades and low-caliber guns – took up position at each intersection and installed metal barricades to stop the marchers. At the intersection of Comercio Street (a busy pedestrian corridor) and Yanacocha Street, the peasant farmer leadership stopped at one meter from the repressive forces and demanded to pass. Some leaders began minor scuffles to provoke police and advance further.
Why are marchers trying to provoke police? Are they hoping that one death will spiral things out of control like in October 2003?
In Slate, Ryan Grim wrote about his experiences "embedded" with a group of marchers. It's amazing that he didn't lose a limb with the dynamite scattered about.
While marching with indigenous Aymara campesinos, I watched as they took pains to smash as many car and bus windows as they could, often with the drivers and passengers still inside.
and
About 5 feet in front of me, an Aymara man tossed dynamite at the police line facing us. The stick exploded in the middle of three officers, who protected themselves with their riot shields. Rocks and bottles were lofted from the crowd, followed by a massive explosion behind us. Police reacted by firing tear gas canisters and rubber bullets into the crowd, which turned and fled.
also
All day Wednesday police clashed with protesters. On one corner near the presidential palace, I watched as cops frantically scattered to avoid a massive bomb rolled in our direction. It exploded before reaching us, shattering windows up and down Calle Yancoha. Police regrouped and responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. Protesters followed with another glass-shattering bomb.
Those are frigthening descriptions. It begs the question, "who is repressing who?" Yes, it is true that the Bolivian police are not the most gentle group of law enforcers. However, these scenes of war demonstrates that this is not a one-sided affair, where marchers are always the victim. Often these young policemen are reacting and fighting for their lives against these homemade weapons of destruction. Let us hope that no firearms are thrown into the equation.
By now, the marchers do not care whether they win in the court of public opinion. As of yesterday, La Paz was out of gasoline and diesel because of the blockades. When ordinary men, women and children are terrorized when their public transport mini-van has its windows shattered, the real issue no longer becomes indigenous exclusion and socio-economic inequalities. All that is left is a scene of violence, insecurity and frustration.
Posted by eduardo at Mayo 26, 2005 04:51 PM
Comments
Great post. I agree with you that the line between victim and perpetrator has blurred immensely. Whoever "wins," it will be a Pyhrric victory.
Posted by: Christian at Mayo 26, 2005 06:51 PM
Very well written, Eduardo. The political posturings are interesting, but it's the human side of the equation -- the terror that must be felt by rookie cops on riot duty, or the fear a mother has for her and children -- that really hits home.
Posted by: Don Ball Carbajal at Mayo 27, 2005 12:21 AM