CONALDE’s strike starts with violence at Santa Cruz

A 24 hour strike promoted by Bolivian opposition started with violence at Santa Cruz. It has been rejected at Tarija though. The opposition is trying to recover from a diminishing popularity at the Referendum ballots on 10 Augst 2008.

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Citizen organizations at Tarija reject CONALDE’s strike

Tarija, Aug, 19, (ABI).- Citizen Organizations at Tarija decided not to obey the 24 hour strike organized by CONALDE since they consider it just a political affair."This strike as usual is imposed to those who want to do their duties and to feed their families" Inocencio Alamazan, Leader of Citizen Organizations of Tarija, stated. According to Almazan, 25 Citizen Organizations from different neighbourhoods are fed up with those decisions made by Tarija’s civic committee. He pointed out that this kind of measure represented just an attack against citizenship.He regretted that Prefect Mario Cossio has not carried out any work for those poor areas of the city. That is why this leader disagrees with this strike which asks for IDH (Direct Tax on Hydrocarbons) replacement.Afbs/Rq                ABI
Translation: G. Martin Escobar M.[q] 

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Santa Cruz, Aug, 19, (ABI).- CONALDE’s strike started today at dawn with some violent actions promoted by young people who belong to the group UJC who went to Plan Tres Mil neighbourhood, an area considered as an opponent to autonomist groups, where they attacked any person who did not obey the measure.Despite civic people yesterday promised that strike carrying out would be peaceful whose demand was IDH (Direct Tax on Hydrocarbons) replacement. However, it was observed confrontation and violence against those who did not obey it. Since shops open were looted and people inside attacked, even journalists suffered attacks and could not do their duties freely and finally a police car was destroyed and three officers inside were hit at Santa Cruz.Branko Marinkovic, Civic committee’s chairman from Santa Cruz, tried to play down these attacks saying that those were led by people who are part of Movement to Socialism MAS (Spanish initials). However, those vandals who took part over these violent actions were identified as UJC’s members.[q]