Bolivia's 50-day protests paralyze transport, president orders police and military to restore order

(Central News Agency) (La Paz, Bolivia, June 20, Comprehensive Foreign News) Protests in Bolivia over the past 50 days have brought the economy to a near standstill. After President Arce declared a state of emergency nationwide, he immediately ordered the clearing of road blockades from the protests, authorizing the large-scale deployment of the military to restore social order.

Arce (Rodrigo Paz) said in a national address early this morning that the anti-government activities and road blockades have crossed the line of what social protests should entail, evolving into organized actions aimed at destabilizing the country's democratic system.

Arce said, "Now is the time for the government to act." He pledged to protect the people, ensure the circulation of essential goods, and warned that protesters who continue to paralyze society will face legal sanctions.

The groups organizing these protests are largely supporters of former President Evo Morales. They have blocked major roads, causing trucks to be stranded and disrupting the transport of food, fuel, and medicine. The administrative capital, La Paz, and the neighboring city of El Alto have been particularly hard hit.

In the early morning, at least 200 armed personnel carrying tear gas gathered near the El Alto police station. Around 9 a.m., a large police convoy departed from the station and headed towards the blocked main highways.

Arce, who has been in power for only 7 months, suddenly cut fuel subsidies that had been in place for 20 years after taking office. The aim was to reduce the fiscal deficit and address a severe shortage of US dollar foreign exchange, but this led to a sharp increase in domestic oil prices. Major unions and protest groups are therefore demanding that the government restore subsidies, increase wages, resolve energy shortages, and publicly call for President Arce's resignation.

According to Bolivian law, a recall referendum can only be initiated after a president has been in office for two and a half years.

Before Arce took office, the left-wing "Movement Towards Socialism" (MAS) government, led by Morales, ruled for nearly 20 years. Morales himself was in power from 2006 to 2019. Arce accuses Morales of inciting these protests.

Morales has publicly supported the current protests, calling for early elections and stating that this unrest is a public backlash against Arce's economic policies.

Arce's rise to power was supported by US President Donald Trump and is seen as a key part of Washington's strategy to strengthen its influence in South America. (Compiled by Ji Jinling) 1150621

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