| When Social Demands Are Met With Bullets By Ronald J. Morgan EL ALTO, Bolivia -- Killing that accompanied October protests over Bolivia's plans to export natural gas to California, left nearly sixty dead and 400 injured. At least four children were killed and twenty to thirty persons are expected to be permanently disabled. The bloodshed caused a loss of political support that forced President Gonzalo Sanchez Lozada to resign on October 17. But it was also expected. Bolivia's political discourse is carried on through social protests which are large and of long duration. And during Bolivia's years of democracy, the military and police have often dispersed them by firing into unarmed persons with little fear of prosecution. Groups such as Human Rights Watch have often complained about the use of lethal force by Bolivian police and military units. In a letter to President Carlos Meza this December, the organization said, "given the high ratio of civilian to military and police casualties, Human Rights Watch is deeply concerned that the security forces may have failed to exercise proper care in responding to the protests. Under binding international standards, the intentional use of lethal force by law enforcement officials is permissible only when strictly unavoidable to protect life." The widespread perception of impunity for abuses by military units and police has helped form a growing divide between the poor classes and those holding political power. "When the military courts obtain jurisdiction over a case involving members of the armed forces implicated in abuses against civilians, the case almost inevitably ends in an acquittal. The military’s ruling of acquittal, moreover, blocks the civilian justice system from proceeding with its own prosecution." José Miguel Vivanco,who heads the Human Rights Watch Americas Division, said in his letter to President Mesa. What happened when the police and military faced off with protesters in the capital's working class sister city of El Alto is gradually being pieced together as injured and families of those killed apply for government compensation. The El Alto office of Caritas joined with other organizations to form the commission for Justice and Peace following the October violence. It alleges that most of the casualties in the city were from indiscriminate fire by army units and a helicopter which fired from the air. Police units which fired rubber bullets produced less lethal injuries. "There were two zones in El Alto where the military surrounded the whole neighborhood and opened fire indiscriminately, said Ursula Knauer, who heads the program to assist families of the dead and injured. Among the visitors to Knauer's office was Vicente Pillcochambilla. He suffered a broken left leg from a bullet while attempting to block gasoline shipments from reaching La Paz. "The bullets that they launched did not respect women, children or older people." he said. Whether the new president can change a policy that quells social protests with bullets will be one of the challenges of moving Bolivia toward a new political consensus. Prosecution of those responsible for the deaths in October is one of the key demands of now politically pivotal social sectors made up of indigenous organizastions, small farmers, coca leaf growers and union members. The Bolivian Prosecutors Office has requested the the Supreme Court to approve the bringing of charges against former President Gonzalez Lozada and his cabinet for reponsibility in the October killings. But a divided Congress will have to approve the impeachment-like prosecution by a two thirds vote. Sacha Llorenti of the Bolivian Human Rights Assembly, predicts that domestic efforts to prosecute members of the Sanchez Lozada regime will be difficult because the former president still has support from some members of congress. If efforts in congress falter, charges will likely be brought before the InterAmerican Court of Human Rights of the Organization of American States. The court has the power to order prosecution, compensation and other legal remedies in cases involving member states. Changing a firm tradition of impunity for police and soldiers will not be easy. The Human Rights Assembly of Bolivia reports that since 1985 there have been 350 deaths stemming from social conflicts; and a toll of 7,000 injured. It also charges that at least 12,000 have been unjustly detained. The constitutional convention that President Meza has promised to call in the coming year may provide the forum for tackling the underlying problem. "That's the great challenge...to see if it can guarantee the independence of the powers of state, to end impunity." Llorenti said. One thing is certain the next Bolivian social protest is not far off. Back hobbling on crutches, Pillcochambilla, an Aymara indian, promised to be in the next blocking of roads or march to the capital. "For years we've been doing this. And we're going to keep doing it. There haven't been any solutions to our problems. This is our strategy. This year, next year. We're going to continue." ### |