| The strike lasted for 3 weeks; campesinos (farmers)
blocked all roads exiting La Paz with rocks, trees and themselves for miles
and miles. About 50 miles of the road from La Paz to Lake Titicaca was carpeted
with rocks. The students at the University in La Paz were also actively
opposing the police with rocks and throwing back the tear gas canisters
that were fired at them. Our hotel was near the University, so about every
other day we avoided going outside from 2:00 - 4:00 PM. The mornings were
quiet. The people were striking for increased teacher's salary, against
the water taxes for the campesinos, and against the removal of coca plants.
The government and campesinos came to an agreement on Friday and signed
the papers on Saturday. We left La Paz on Sunday morning. Nat Robison of
ARHC said it was the worst strike that he can remember since the 1980s.
The further we got from La Paz, the fewer rocks were on the road. |
