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Marzo 30, 2006
LAB on the Brink
Workers of the airline Lloyd Aereo Boliviano took control of the Jorge Wilstermann airport in Cochabamba. Apparently, planes are blockading the runways and the police are using tear gas to disperse the protestors. This is President Morales' first challenge with protestors that cause inconveniences for the country.
They are calling for the nationalization of the airline, which currently has 140 million dollars of debt. Previously the government placed an intervention and was administering the company. However, courts ruled such an intervention was illegal, thus returning control to the President, Ernesto Asbun. The workers announced that they will prevent the Constitutent Assembly from taking place until their demands are met. This is an interesting protest, as it brings together service workers, pilots, stewardesses and other executives all fighting for the same cause.
Update 1: Not good. Photo: Reuters
Update 2: Prensa Latina ends its article with an interesting statement: "The government plans to create its own new airline."
Posted by eduardo at Marzo 30, 2006 11:37 AM
Comments
My friend is vacationing in Argentina is supposed to be returning to CBB today or tomorrow (or trying to) - meanwhile his sister works for LAB at CBB so she's probably one of the strikers. That's an interesting situation.
Posted by: Frank IBC at Marzo 30, 2006 12:27 PM