Bolivia Declares State Of Emergency As Deadly Protests Paralyze Nation

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (Worthy News) – Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz declared a 90-day state of emergency Saturday, empowering the military to clear road blockades after nearly 50 days of anti-government protests that have included widespread road blockades, leaving at least 14 people dead and crippling the nation’s economy.

The unrest has disrupted supplies of food, fuel, and medicine, particularly in the administrative capital La Paz and the neighboring city of El Alto, where shortages have intensified in recent weeks. Protesters have demanded Paz’s resignation over austerity measures, including the removal of long-standing fuel subsidies that fueled inflation and public anger.

Addressing the nation, Paz said the blockades were no longer a legitimate social protest but “an organized attempt to destabilize Bolivia’s democracy.”

“This is not a state of emergency to restrict people’s lives. It is a state of emergency to give people back their freedom,” the president said.

SUPPLIES DISRUPTED

The decree authorizes the armed forces to assist police in reopening highways, restoring transport links, and protecting critical infrastructure. Authorities said the measure could be lifted before the 90-day deadline if violence subsides.

Human rights groups and Bolivia’s ombudsman office said many of the deaths were linked to transportation disruptions that prevented patients from receiving urgent medical treatment. Some human rights groups have put the death toll as high as 17.

Paz signed an agreement Friday with the Bolivian Workers’ Confederation, one of the country’s largest labor unions.

However, several indigenous and rural organizations rejected the deal and continued road blockades, insisting that the president step down.

ECONOMIC CRISIS

The protests began over rising living costs and government austerity measures but evolved into a broader political challenge to Paz’s seven-month-old administration.

Supporters of former President Evo Morales remain influential in parts of the protest movement, although Morales has denied accusations that he is directing the unrest.

Businesses have closed, supermarket shelves have emptied, and hospitals have reported shortages of essential supplies as the blockades continue. Analysts warn that while emergency powers may help restore transportation and fuel deliveries, Bolivia’s deeper economic and political divisions remain unresolved.

Christians were among those affected by the shortages and disruptions caused by the prolonged unrest in Bolivia. In this predominantly Christian nation, about 70 percent of the population identifies as Roman Catholic and a growing minority belongs to evangelical Protestant churches.

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