* Protesters have been blocking Cochabamba's main plaza for five days demanding the resignation of Prefect Manfred Reyes Villa who has been constant friction with the MAS government since his 2005 election. Protesting groups reject Reyes Villa’s tenure, as a result of his participation in the second Sánchez de Lozada governing coalition,accusations of corruption during his terms as the city’s mayor, and calling for a Departmental Referendum to declare greater autonomy for Cochabamba. Protesters were tear-gassed by police on January 8th and the crowd retaliated by setting the door of the prefecture's office on fire and rolling burning tires into the adjoining police station. Over 20 people were injured and the protests are ongoing.
* There was a confrontation in Bulo Bulo, Chapare on New Year’s Day—the versions presented by the government and the press don’t really make sense – it is not at all credible that 300 townspeople would attack an UMOPAR patrol to defend drug traffickers or that local residents would attack an anti-drug patrol because they mistook the detainees for coca producers. This incident and the lack of clarity around it suggest that the situation in the Chapare may not be as tranquil as it seems.
* The price of bread, a staple for most urban Bolivians, increased from 25 to 40 percent. This seemingly unimportant measure has provoked widespread concern for low income families.
* During the past two months, the Bolivian government deported three foreigners, one Cuban accused of criticizing the Cuban and Bolivian governments and two American students who took photographs within the
restricted area of the Summit without press credentials. Officials cited the terms of a Supreme decree passed during the first Sánchez de Lozada administration, which had been designed to limit social protest. The law, declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Tribunal, states that foreigners can be permanently expelled from Bolivia for terrorism, illegal or immoral acts, vagrancy, participating in internal politics, union
leadership, organizing meetings or marches against the government, or making statements or publishing information offensive to institutions or authorities.1 When asked about the significant number of foreign
consultants working for the Morales administration, a spokesperson clarified, that they are “doing good, not causing problems.”
* Tourism representatives are threatening to block the nation’s roads to protest the new visa requirement for US citizens, although they were one group who vociferously protested blockades by social movements in the past.
* The good news: The Morales Administration has rehired Xavier Azkargorta to coach the national soccer team. Azkargorta led the team to the World Cup in 1994. This is perhaps the only governmental initiative to obtain widespread popular support at this time.
1 Supreme Decree 24423, article 4, in La Prensa, 1/8/06