2011 Bolivian Indigenous rights protests

Protests against Evo Morale's Administration in Bolivia January 2020 April 2022 2011 Bolivian protests Marchas del TIPNIS de 2011, Bolivia (5).png Bolivia Mid-August – October 2011 - April – June 2012 Encroachment of indigenous territory Fear of internal migration Change of route for proposed highway; resignation of president (after 24 September crackdown) Resignation of Defense, Interior and Deputy Interior Ministers; suspension of project Demonstrations, protest march, hostage taking (alleged) Bolivia Government of Bolivia Highland indigenous migrants CIDOB CONAMAQ Environmentalists Evo Morales Adolfo ChávezAntonio Soto ~2,000 One hostage (released) Four dead, scores wounded and at least 300 detained or missing The 2011 Bolivian protests were a series of demonstrations by indigenous peoples who opposed the construction of the Villa Tunari – San Ignacio de Moxos Highway through the Isiboro Sécure National Park and Indigenous Territory, the ancestral lands of over 12,000 indigenous residents, from the Chimane, Yuracaré, and Mojeño-Trinitario peoples. Fundación Tierra 265–287 [269] Costas Monje Patricia María Virginia Ortiz Echazú Fundación Tierra Informe 2010: Territorios Indígena Originario Campesinos entre la Loma Santa y la Pachamama Estudio de caso Nº 2: TIPNIS, la coca y una carretera acechan a la Loma Santa: Territorio indigena en Cochabamba y Beni La Paz, Bolivia 2010 The subcentral TIPNIS, the Confederation of Indigenous Peoples of Bolivia (CIDOB), and the highland indigenous confederation CONAMAQ—supported by other indigenous and environmental groups—organised a march from Trinidad, Beni to the national capital La Paz in opposition to the project, beginning on 15 August 2011. Achtenberg Emily Bolivia: TIPNIS Marchers Face Accusations and Negotiations North American Congress on Latin America 7 January 2012 26 August 2011 https://nacla.org/blog/2011/8/26/bolivia-tipnis-marchers-face-accusations-and-negotiations The highway project was supported by domestic migrants, highland indigenous groups affiliated with peasant organizations, and the government. During the protests the lowland tribes peoples briefly held Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca in their protests so as to pass through a police roadblock.2011-09-24 Bolivia's foreign minister briefly held at Amazon highway protest http://www.newser.com/article/d9pv6v1g0/bolivias-foreign-minister-briefly-held-at-amazon-highway-protest.html https://web.archive.org/web/20110925173709/http://www.newser.com/article/d9pv6v1g0/bolivias-foreign-minister-briefly-held-at-amazon-highway-protest.html 2011-09-25 2026-02-23 www.newser.com Defense Minister María Chacón Rendón later resigned as a result of the violent crackdown on protests on 24 September that caused four deaths; due to the adverse reaction to the government crackdown Interior Minister Sacha Llorenty also resigned. On 19 October the protest march reached the capital city of La Paz amid welcomes from the local population and the Information Minister, as security services were withdrawn from their posts guarding the presidential palace. Protests were held in the national capital La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Yucumo, Rurrenabaque, Trinidad, San Antonio, El Alto and Beni. In April 2012, a new round of protest marches commences in protest against Morales' continued support for the project. Background Despite the election of the first ever indigenous president, Evo Morales, indigenous groups have intermittently continued social protests. In 2008, the predominantly European-origin residents of Bolivia's eastern lowland provinces were successfully resisted by the indigenous groups with the solidarity of highland indigenous groups, though it was after violent protests and deaths.April 2021 In 2009, the European-Bolivians also tried to protest Morales' attempts at a new constitution that would increase his term limit. However, a compromise that Morales would not run again led to the creation of a new constitution and the establishment of the Plurinational State of Bolivia. Another provision in the new constitution explicitly referred to the defence of the communal rights of the indigenous communities over their traditional tribal lands.https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/oct/03/evo-morales-indigenous-people-protest?newsfeed=true London The Guardian Mike Gonzalez Evo Morales's defence of Mother Earth rings hollow in Bolivia – Mike Gonzalez 3 October 2011 However, a regional election that was won by right-wing partySeptember 2011 was widely celebrated in that part of Bolivia.April 2021 In 1990, Morales, as a union leader in the March for Territory and Dignity, had helped create the indigenous autonomy territories. Morales' primary support base is from the coca-growing Aymara and Quechua tribes in the Chapare region. However, in the part of the Amazon Basin where the highway was scheduled to be built, they are known as "colonists" for having migrated to the region. He came to power on the promise of ending discrimination and marginalisation. Morales said that the US$420 million, 300 km mi on highway project, funded by Brazil in the quest to access the Pacific Ocean, would be a principal part of his infrastructure plan. The highway would connect the agricultural region of Beni with the commercial crossroad of Cochabamba; it would also reduce travel time by half as it short-circuits Santa Cruz, a region that had opposed Morales' presidency. In June, he said that the highway would go ahead "whether they (indigenous groups) like it or not". In response, indigenous leaders, who had in the past been supportive of Morales, reacted adversely; this caused a rift within the ruling Movement Toward Socialism party. Some MPs of the party expressed their support for the protesters, as well as the demands of the roughly 12,000 residents of the Isiboro Secure Indigenous Territory and National Park (which is both a national park and an autonomous territory that is under the auspices of the Yuracare, Moxeno and Chiman indigenous peoples) in the Amazon Basin, which is home to 64 indigenous tribes and where the highway was proposed to be built.April 2021 A study conducted prior to the protests estimated that 64 percent of the national park would be deforested in less than 18 years. Furthermore, the highway could lead to land grabs by loggers and cocaleros. The protesters also feared an "invasion" of migrants following the construction of the highway. Parallels Similarly, prior to the victory of left-wing candidate Ollanta Humala in Peru's election, several thousand indigenous Quechua tribes people blocked the border with Bolivia (whose post-colonial boundaries divide the Quechua tribes into at least two states) in protest against mining contracts given to a Canadian companySeptember 2011 that they said would poison Lake Titicaca, their principal source of water. They too vowed to continue their protests after Humala's election.William I. Robinson http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/09/2011913141540508756.html Latin America's left at the crossroads – Opinion Al Jazeera English 14 September 2011 29 September 2011 Similarly, in March 2012, protesters in Ecuador began a cross-country march against fellow pink tide President Rafael Correa's policies for mining in the Amazon.April 2021 Goals In addition to the cancellation of the highway project, protesters also demanded the resignation of President Evo Morales following a bloody crackdown on protesters. Other demands by the protesters also included a cessation of oil and gas extraction projects in the Aguaragüe National Park and Integrated Management Natural Area, as well as compensation for the effects of global warming.Bustillos Gerardo Bolivia cancels controversial Amazon highway https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jf2Pe-nkNx8yXlAL_6crFa4VDk5g https://web.archive.org/web/20130224110929/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jf2Pe-nkNx8yXlAL_6crFa4VDk5g dead 24 February 2013 23 October 2011 Agence France-Presse 22 October 2011 Protest marches The initial protest started in mid-August as activists from the Amazon Basin left Trinidad in the hope of reaching the national capital of La Paz to protest Morales' initiative. More than 1,700 protesters, including pregnant women and children, joined the 375-mile trek.Manuela Picq http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/09/201197105514717750.html Evading indigenous consultation in Bolivia – Opinion Al Jazeera English 29 September 2011 Following a march of over a month, the protest group reached the outskirts of Yucumo, a predominantly pro-government town, where pro- and anti-government groups clashed. Following more than a week of protests, the marchers staged a larger demonstration in which they sought to circumvent a police crackdown by forcefully holding Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca to march with them.http://english.aljazeera.net/video/americas/2011/09/20119254351643646.html Bolivian protesters use official as shield – Americas Al Jazeera English 25 September 2011 29 September 2011 A group of female marchers grabbed Choquehuanca and insisted that he lead them through the police cordon that separated them from pro-government marchers so they could continue their journey to La Paz. Several government officials, including Minister of Interior Sacha Llorenty and Minister of Transparency Nardi Suxo, said that this was a "kidnapping" (secuestro), but Choquehuanca steadfastly refused to label it as such, saying that "the sisters and [female] comrades grabbed me, surely they had thought that they would pass that police encirclement with the Chancellor; I was not insulted, nor mistreated, but yes, they obliged me to walk.""Las hermanas y compañeras me agarraron, seguramente han pensado que pasarían con el canciller ese cerco policial, no he recibido insultos, no me maltratan pero si me obligan a caminar." CIDOB advierte enfrentamiento si no expulsan a cocaleros del TIPNIS La Jornada 5 December 2011 18 November 2011 http://www.jornadanet.com/n.php?a=70278-1 ProsecutorDecember 2011 Patrica Santos, who was charged with investigating the events, received Choquehuanca's testimony to this effect on 21 November.Choquehuanca ratifica que no fue secuestrado El Deber 5 December 2011 22 November 2011 http://www.eldeber.com.bo/2011/2011-11-22/vernotanacional.php?id=111121223434 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20111126054741/http://www.eldeber.com.bo/2011/2011-11-22/vernotanacional.php?id=111121223434 26 November 2011 On 25 September, the protesters' arrival in the Yucumo region led to police firing tear gas and detaining some protesters; it also led to several injuries and four deaths. Maria Carvajal, a rights activist, said that the police attacked the protest camp with "extreme violence" and that she "could not believe what was happening". The next day, protesters returned and set barricades on fire at the airport runway in Rurrenabaque in order to secure the release of 300 protesters who had been arrested, according to Mayor Yerko Nunez. Protests also occurred in the capital city of La Paz as riot police organized a security cordon around the Quemada government building, where thousands of protesters denounced the crackdown. Solidarity protests were also held in Cochabamba (the scene of similar anti-government riots prior to Morales taking office, which some said were instrumental in leading the social movements that brought Morales to powerStone, Oliver. South of the Border.), with student protests and members of the Aymara and Quechua indigenous peoples beginning a hunger strike. Other protests were also held in the Beni province and in Santa Cruz. On 28 September, several thousands again gathered to protest against the government crackdown and to defend the national park. The Central Obrera Boliviana called for a 24-hour general strike;Bolivia: General Strike Protests Crackdown on Native March though some businesses stayed open, schools and medical services were affected. The strikers marched outside the capital of La Paz to El Altohttp://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2011/09/2011928204718315778.html Fresh protests in Bolivia road row – Americas Al Jazeera English 29 September 2011 chanting "Evo is a fascist!" and "Evo is a lackey of Brazilian companies," miners burnt sticks of dynamiteAFP: Bolivia leader asks for pardon after massive strike and the marches caused traffic delays.http://www.comparecarhire.co.uk/news/bolivia-protests-stall-traffic-53832799.html Bolivia protests stall traffic Travel News 30 September 2011 27 May 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140527212929/http://www.comparecarhire.co.uk/news/bolivia-protests-stall-traffic-53832799.html dead The protesters were said to be encouraged by the solidarity protests in the urban areas and the general strike; they then said that the protest march would continue. One protest leader, Mariana Guasania, told a group of about 200 protesters in Rurrenabaque: "Long live this historic march...the march goes on" in the quest to see a law that would guarantee the highway would bypass the national park. On 30 September, over 10,000 protesters in La Paz carried banners that criticized Morales on the grounds that his government was "the worst and it should go because it attacked human beings, the indigenous compatriots who had given it their support, and now it's turned its back on them;" they also questioned his commitment to the rights of the indigenous peoples and the protection of "Mother Earth", that he had advocated during his election campaign.July 2021 As of 30 September, protesters said they would further their protests even though Morales said that "the roads construction is suspended until the national debate is over." Protests resumed over the weekend of 1 October, with about 1,000 demonstrators continuing the unfinished stretch of 250 km to La Paz. Adolfo Chávez, an indigenous leader, said that "We have resumed the march and our intention is not to clash with anybody. Instead of accusing the indigenous people, what the government should do is resolve the problem of the road once and for all."https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-15138784 BBC News Bolivia Amazon protesters resume Tipnis road march 1 October 2011 On 19 October, almost 2,000 protesters reached the capital city of La Paz. Despite the suspension of the project the protest march continued in order to see the project canceled. Fifteen hundred protesters started the march to be joined by up to tens of thousands of protesters, according to the Al Jazeera English. As the protesters entered the city, people in La Paz cheered them by waving Bolivian flags and white handkerchiefs. As a gesture of goodwill both police and riot control vehicles were withdrawn from their positions outside the presidential palace, while the information ministerOctober 2011 offered an official welcome to the protesters.Bolivian protesters arrive in La Paz – Americas – Al Jazeera English 2012 Several hundred indigenous protesters began a 580-kilometer march from the eastern Amazon lowlands region to the legislative capital of La Paz in opposition to Morales' continued support for the highway project.http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2012/04/201242911238490945.html Bolivians protest road construction 25 December 2014 The organizers said that if the government's support for the project continued there would be more violence.http://www.aljazeera.com/video/americas/2012/07/2012780234978727.html Clashes over highway continue in Bolivia 25 December 2014 Simultaneously there were indigenous protests in Peru.http://www.aljazeera.com/video/americas/2012/07/201277181148241713.html Fury over funerals of protesters in Peru 25 December 2014 Response Morales' immediate reaction to the protests was to call the marchers "enemies of the nation." He also sought to discredit them by saying they had been brainwashed by NGOs and saying the march was yet another attempt by the U.S.A. at expanding their imperialism. Morales had said that a referendum would be held over the project in the Cochabamba and Beni departments following protests by farmers from the 16 tribes of the national park in San Antonio. He has also previously said that he would work to ensure illegal settlers in the national park were evicted.http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2011/09/20119262719973198.html Bolivia to hold referendum on forest road – Americas Al Jazeera English 29 September 2011 On 28 September, following the march to El Alto, he said that "we ask for forgiveness – forgive me. [The crackdown] was not an instruction by the president. No one in the government would have thought such an attack could happen to our indigenous brothers." He also called the protests a "wake-up call."http://uk.reuters.com/article/bolivia-protests-idUKS1E78R1QI20110929 https://web.archive.org/web/20160305220430/http://uk.reuters.com/article/bolivia-protests-idUKS1E78R1QI20110929 dead 5 March 2016 Reuters UPDATE 2-Bolivia protesters to resume march against Amazon road 29 September 2011 However, Rosario Barradas, a leader of the Conference of Indigenous People, responded to the statement saying that "we don't believe what he says anymore. We are reorganising to continue this. We are not going to stop until this is solved."http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/29/world/americas/bolivia-protests/ Bolivian president asks for forgiveness after attacks on indigenous groups CNN 29 September 2011 Despite the concessions, Jhonny an Osomomo chief said that: "If they build it correctly, so that it skirts the reserve, a road could be a good thing. For example, we have very few health supplies and doctors here and it could help keep our children healthy."Bolivia's Morales suspends road project – Americas – Al Jazeera English In response to the crackdown on 25 September, government officials, including Defense Minister María Chacón Rendón and the ombudsman, as well as opposition figures criticised the government's reaction. Chacon said that "This is not the way! We agreed to do things differently." She also announced her resignation. However, Communications Minister Ivan Canelas said that the police had no choice but to respond as they did. "The march [in the Yucumo region] was defused because it had become a source of violence."http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2011/09/20119270619421588.html Bolivia minister quits over road protest row – Americas Al Jazeera English 29 September 2011 Morales' Interior Minister Sacha Llorenty, who had come under pressure for his handling of the crisis, also resigned,Bolivian interior minister resigns over protest crackdown along with his deputy Marcos Farfan.July 2021 On 11 October, the Chamber of Deputies of Bolivia had approved the President's decision to consult with local indigenous tribes regarding the project.AFP Bolivia lawmakers halt contested highway plans https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g8tNN8Utf97ymEuo93lwXG4FNLYQ https://web.archive.org/web/20130224110934/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g8tNN8Utf97ymEuo93lwXG4FNLYQ dead 24 February 2013 23 October 2011 Agence France-Presse 11 October 2011 Cancellation On 21 October 2011, Morales announced a possible postponement or cancellation of the proposed Amazon highway. Morales passed a law through the Bolivian Congress that would prohibit construction of a highway through the national park.Quinones Nelson Under pressure, Bolivian president scraps highway plan http://articles.cnn.com/2011-10-22/americas/world_americas_bolivia-highway-conflict_1_plaza-murillo-first-indigenous-president-protest-leader?_s=PM:AMERICAS 23 October 2011 Cable News Network 22 October 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111024023947/http://articles.cnn.com/2011-10-22/americas/world_americas_bolivia-highway-conflict_1_plaza-murillo-first-indigenous-president-protest-leader?_s=PM:AMERICAS 24 October 2011 dead dmy-all International United Nations – Following the clash in Yucumo, the United Nations' delegate in the country, Yoriko Yasukawa, said that "the most important thing for us is that they stop the violence as soon as possible. And to remind the authorities that it is their responsibility to stop violence and protect the people." Ecuador – The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador sent Morales a letter of concern.http://boliviarising.blogspot.in/2011/10/letter-from-conaie-to-evo-morales_01.html Bolivia Rising Bolivia Rising 25 December 2014 Media The Guardian wrote that: Having nationalised gas and oil and introduced some immediate measures of social welfare, it seemed that the government of Morales would indeed, as he movingly declared at the Copenhagen Climate Conference, give priority to the protection of "Pachamama" and the long neglected rights of Bolivia's first nations. The march from the national park – or to give it its full name the Indigenous Territory of the Isiboro Sécure National Park (Tipnis) – was intended to insist on those constitutional rights...The attack on the Tipnis marchers will serve only to fuel a growing disillusionment. The guarantee of prior consultation in the constitution was ignored over petrol price rises (in 2010), and again over road-building projects like this one. And the defence of Mother Earth rings hollow when it is clear that the economic strategy the Morales government has adopted seems to rely on new contracts with a range of multinational companies to develop oil, gas, lithium and uranium reserves – in other words, the very extractive industries that had gutted Bolivia's subsoil at the expense of a population 69% of whom were living in poverty when Morales came to power. The BBC echoed the sentiment saying that Morales is accused of "authorising excessive police force" and "putting economic development ahead of the conservation of the Amazon rainforest." It also added that the social movements that supported him initially have now turned against him. It concluded that:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-15144719 BBC News Bolivia Amazon road dispute dents Evo Morales' support 3 October 2011 With opinion polls suggesting Mr Morales' popularity is falling, some commentators are wondering if he will see out his second term in office, due to end in early 2015. Or will he leave power like the two previous presidents, fleeing to escape mass protests by social movements who have learned that, in Bolivia, politics is made on the streets. Analysis Following the 2011 Bolivian judicial election, which resulted in a poor valid vote count after a campaign by the opposition to either boycott the election or cast blank ballots, Morales' standing was read as having been set back.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/oct/17/bolivia-president-election-road-protest?newsfeed=true London The Guardian Tom Phillips Bolivian president facing election blow amid road protests 17 October 2011 See also Bolivia List of protests in the 21st century References 30em Protests Category:2011 in the environment Category:2011 protests Category:Anti-road protests Category:August 2011 in South America Protests, 2011 Category:Environmental protests Category:October 2011 in South America 2011 Category:September 2011 in South America Category:Environmental racism