Bolivia Protests Intensify as US Backs President, Diplomatic Rift with Colombia Widens
Anti-government demonstrations in Bolivia have entered a second week, with road blockades and clashes in the capital, La Paz, according to multiple reports. The unrest has drawn international attention, including a statement of support for President Rodrigo Paz from the United States, while a separate dispute with Colombia has led to the expulsion of that country's ambassador.
Protests and Government Response
Protests have spread across several regions, with demonstrators blocking roads and engaging in confrontations with police in La Paz. The Bolivian government attributes the disruptions to supporters of former President Evo Morales, saying they are responsible for supply chain problems and unrest. Local media and official statements report that clashes on May 18 resulted in around 100 detentions, though this figure has not been independently confirmed and appears in only one of the two reports reviewed.
According to The Guardian, the protests have so far resulted in four deaths, although the source notes that one demonstrator was reportedly killed in clashes and three others reportedly died because road blockades prevented them from receiving timely medical treatment. The exact circumstances remain unclear, and these casualty figures have not been corroborated by other sources.
US Support for President Paz
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said on Tuesday that he had spoken with President Paz and assured him that the United States stands behind Bolivia's legitimate constitutional government. In a statement reported by TASS, Landau said that "those who lost overwhelmingly at the ballot box in Bolivia last year are trying to overthrow President Rodrigo Paz by organizing riots and [road] blockades with the support of organized crime and drug traffickers."
Landau added: "I spoke with my friend President Paz this afternoon, and assured him that the United States stands squarely in support of Bolivia's legitimate constitutional government and rejects this attempt to substitute the institutional order with mob rule." The Guardian report also quotes Landau describing the protests as "an ongoing coup d'état," though it does not provide the full context of his remarks.
Diplomatic Rift with Colombia
The Bolivian government ordered the expulsion of Colombia's ambassador in La Paz on Wednesday, according to The Guardian. The move came in response to comments by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who had reposted a video on social media claiming that Paz was a "puppet of the US" and that Bolivia was experiencing a "popular insurrection" that was "the response to geopolitical arrogance." Bolivia's foreign ministry said the expulsion was intended to "preserve the principles of sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs."
Petro responded by saying that Bolivia was "sliding into extremism," though the details of his reply are not fully reported in the sources reviewed.
Background and Context
President Rodrigo Paz, a former senator, came to power after a period of political upheaval that ended nearly two decades of rule by the leftist Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party. His government has faced significant challenges, including what The Guardian describes as Bolivia's worst economic crisis in four decades, characterized by shortages of dollars and fuel and rising inflation. These economic difficulties are cited as a backdrop to the current protests, although the relationship between the economic crisis and the demonstrations is not explicitly detailed in the sources.
Former President Evo Morales, who is currently facing trial on human trafficking charges in another province, has denied fueling the unrest. According to The Guardian, Morales said the uprisings were "against the implementation of the neoliberal model" and described the protests as "just and necessary" for the thousands of victims of "dirty fuel." The exact meaning of his references to "dirty fuel" is not clarified in the reports.
Perspectives and Unverified Claims
The situation in Bolivia is being framed in sharply divergent ways by the parties involved. US Deputy Secretary Landau and the Bolivian government characterize the protests as an attempt to subvert democratic order, allegedly with the backing of organized crime. In contrast, former President Morales and his supporters describe the movement as a popular uprising against economic policies they consider harmful.
Several claims in the reports have not been independently verified. The casualty figures, the number of detentions, and the alleged involvement of organized crime and drug traffickers are assertions made by officials or cited in one source, and they remain subject to confirmation. The diplomatic exchange with Colombia is reported by The Guardian, but the details of Petro's social media posts and his subsequent remarks are based on that single source.
As the protests continue, the international community watches closely, with the United States having taken a clear stance. The evolving situation on the ground and the responses from regional actors will likely shape the trajectory of Bolivia's political crisis in the coming days.