Bolivia: La Paz Blockaded as Combative Clashes Erupt in the City
Featured image: Peasants set fire to a police check point in La Paz province. Source: Association of New Democracy – Germany (Nuevo Peru)
Anti-government combative protests erupted in La Paz, capital of Bolivia, on Monday 18th of May as demonstrators clashed with riot police and demanded the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz, who has been President for only six months so far. Protests erupted due to demands such as the increase of wages by teachers, protests against the fuel prices and rampant inflation, and also protests by indigenous peasants against a new bill (Law 1720) which seeks to further concentrates the property of land. The government has repealed already the bill.
A Nova Democracia (AND) reports on combative demonstrations where workers and peasants, among them the group of the “Red Ponchos”, fought for more than two hours against the police forces and attempted to break the police barricades to enter in the Murillo Square, where the government and the parliament are located. At the same time, miners and workers of other sectors advanced through other streets in order to access the area. The demonstrators set fire to a car, and the government was forces to evacuate the entire area. The repressive forces fired tear gas against the marches, but the masses used as shields all kind of materials to protect themselves from the attack. The masses pelted stones, used fireworks and everything what they could to respond to the State attack.
Association of New Democracy – Germany (Nuevo Peru) reported that on Thursday 21st of May peasants set fire to a police checkpoint in La Tranca de Chaguaya, in La Paz province.
Indigenous peasants took over one police checkpoint in Villa Tunari and they also blockaded the International Airport of Chimoré.
Different media sources reported on more than 100 arrests and 50 injured, among them, 11 police officers. At least four people died in the protests. The Bolivian State resorts to repression in a futile attempt to stop the massive and combative protests that are taking place. The attorney general’s office said an arrest warrant had been issued for Mario Argollo, head of Bolivia’s largest labor union, the Bolivian Workers’ Union (COB), on charges including terrorism and incitement. There are also arrest warrants for 24 other union and peasant leaders involved in the organization of the protests.
The repression unleashed by the Bolivian State has not stopped the struggle of the masses, and the latter have imposed a blockade which affects La Paz since several days ago, preventing the entrance of supplies and troops. The State has deployed today a large convoy of armored vehicles and troops in an attempt to break this blockade.
We have reported on previous protests that shook the country, such as those which took place between December of 2025 and January 2026 against the Decree 5503 announced by Rodrigo Paz. The Bolivian people showed its strength as they blocked the entire country for 25 days, blockaded more than 70 highways and targeted economic spaces of strategic interest.
