Military and law enforcement forces clashed with demonstrators outside La Paz, Bolivia, on Saturday in an attempt to clear roadways blocked as part of nationwide antigovernment protests.

Up to 3,500 soldiers and police were deployed in the operation, which began in the early hours. Around 57 people were arrested, according to the citizens’ rights ombudsman’s office.

Miners, schoolteachers, indigenous groups, and unions have helped organize the protests, which aim to convey outrage against the government of center-right President Rodrigo Paz.

Bolivia is in the grip of a historic economic crisis, considered the worst in decades. The government’s foreign currency reserves have cratered, as exports have slowed. Key among those was natural gas, which powered Bolivia’s economy for nearly three decades after vast reserves were discovered in the late 20th century. However, in 2022, mismanagement and dwindling supplies forced Bolivia to import fuel, exacerbating the crisis.

Currently, many parts of the country experience long lines for fuel and shortages of basic supplies like food. Paz, elected in October, campaigned on alleviating economic stress but has sparked outrage by ending a two-decade-old fuel subsidy and pushing to privatize state-owned companies.

Earlier this month, protests forced the repeal of a land reform measure, Law 1720, which critics claimed could dispossess small rural landowners in favor of larger holdings. The government estimates 22 roadblocks have been erected across the country.

Some protesters demand Paz’s resignation; his election marked the end of nearly two decades of rule by the Movement for Socialism (MAS). However, Paz’s office blames the demonstrations for cutting off key supplies to cities like La Paz, claiming food prices have risen and three people died after being unable to reach hospitals.

Presidential spokesperson Jose Luis Galvez said Saturday’s crackdown aimed to create a “humanitarian corridor” to ensure free flow of supplies to hospitals in La Paz. Earlier, Paz thanked Argentine counterpart Javier Milei for delivering humanitarian assistance, calling it “vital relief for our communities in times of great need.”

Milei denounced the protesters as anti-democratic, stating, “Argentina stands with the Bolivian people and supports their democratically elected authorities against those who seek to destabilize the country.”

Source: www.aljazeera.com