Mayo 16, 2005
Preventing Entrance
After a tense day where an estimated 10,000 - 20,000 marchers tried to enter the Plaza where the Presidential palace and Parliment is located, the government commented. A few hours ago, the Government Minister Saul Lara announced:
"The Government Ministry and the Police did not repress, one should not confuse an aggressive attitude that attempts to enter the Plaza Murillo, overtake Parliment or public institutions and offices. Naturally we will not permit, or have we permitted (from this from happening)."
The majority of the marchers descended from El Alto, no longer asking for a 50 - 50 split with the oil companies, rather a full nationalization of the Hydrocarbons. In the clash with police, two protestors were injured, one policeman and one man arrested for exploding a stick of dynamite. The government has decided to restrict access to this Plaza because of verbal threats to take over the Parliment and close it down.
Minister Lara also offered guarantees to the Congress that they will be able to go about their business tomorrow of establishing a date for the Referendum for Autonomies, as well as possibly receiving Mesa's observations/amendments to the Hydrocarbons Law. If things continue to escalate, there would be a possibility that Congress may choose to convene in another city.
Posted by eduardo at Mayo 16, 2005 02:14 PM