Ran into 2 rallies today. One 300 strong. Indigenous artists protesting the mayors rezoning of La Paz to make it really difficult for them to sell their wares. The local government is building public housing in a bustling La Paz central street. The indigenous artist syndicalist liked public housing but wanted another area where thet are guareenteed a bustling trade. Minimum wage in Bolivia is 200 Bs ($30 Aus) per week. An artisan can get as low as $100 Bs in a week selling goods from the side of the road.
The protest wound its way through the main thoroughfare of La Paz with no hastle from the cops.
The other rally was also indigneous dominated and located 2 minutes from the other rally! A group of workers have been fighting for 10 years against Mercantil Santa Cruz to reclaim money and jobs. The bank bankrolled a factory where all these people worked and then when company went bust - workers lost everything.
Bolivian rallies are like those in Australia. Megaphones with people giving impassioned speeches. Banners and placards. However they have more fireworks here. Which sound like gunfire. Which made me jump!
The cops just looked on. One smiled at me, non-patronisingly. I had a Che t-shirt on and a hat with the indigenous flag on it. The protesters were great - communicative and happy for their struggle to be broadcast. Met a lefty Chilean taking photos. He said "We must thank Evo Morales for these changes". Indeed!
Great article by Franz Chávez on Bolivia Rising summerising the situation for Morales with the 5 rich Eastern states wanting autonomy. Here tis.
http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/
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