SUCRE STUDENTS CAPTURE INDIGENOUS HOSTAGES 

In Sucre on May 24^th, a visit from President Evo Morales was suspended when violent protests broke out in various locations around the city.  What was supposed to be a day of celebration – the 199^th anniversary of the liberation of the capital – turned into a confrontation between pro-Morales indigenous supporters and anti-Morales university students.  Tensions have been high in Sucre since Black November of 2007 when three protestors were killed in Sucre during a conflict over the seat of the capital.  Many in Sucre blame the Morales administration for sending the police into the conflict and thereby causing the deaths.  As a result, students tried to stop Morales’ visit and clashed with indigenous supporters who came to Sucre to celebrate.  The protests came to a disturbing climax when students took indigenous supporters hostage in the Plaza de 25 de Mayo. 

Black November Background

Protests in Sucre occurred from November 24-26^th, and resulted in violent struggles between protestors and police.  Pro-Sucre protestors were supporting the move of Bolivia’s capital from La Paz to Sucre. Three deaths occurred and as many as 200 people were injured.  The deaths have not been properly investigated, and neither the MAS government nor its opponents want to take responsibility.  As a result, the tension between pro and anti-MAS supporters is high in and around Sucre.  On May 24^th, these tensions came to a violent and disturbing climax.

Initial Conflicts

MAS supporters began arriving at the National Stadium in Sucre early in the morning in anticipation of President Morales’ visit.  They were met by anti-Morales protestors, mostly local university students, and violence broke out despite police supervision.  The military later arrived, using tear gas to break up protestors, but only escalated the violence.  The Interinstitutional Committee of Chuquisaca, a right wing anti-Morales council, ordered the withdrawal of all security forces.

The violence escalated in various parts of the city without security forces to contain it.  Conflicts occurred throughout the morning and early afternoon, including in the Barrio Agosto de 6, where students and indigenous supporters traded rocks and explosives.  Although reports vary, it seems the conflict lasted about six hours and left around 50 people injured, 3 suffering serious injuries.[1]  The majority of those wounded were indigenous supporters, although some students and police were also injured.  One student who suffered a bullet wound in his left hand was among those seriously injured.[ELB1]   Most injuries occurred from gas, thrown rocks, and slingshots.  In addition to protestors, Juan Carlos Arévalo, a Sucre army official, and Senator Tomasa Yarhui were treated in hospital for gas poisoning.[2] 

Students take Indigenous Supporters Hostage

The most disturbing incident in Sucre occurred when students took approximately thirty indigenous people hostage.[3]  The hostages were taken to the Plaza de 25 de Mayo where they were subjected to physical aggression, racist insults, and humiliation.  Male hostages[ELB2]  were forced to remove their shirts and all hostages were forced on their knees.  One particularly violent act occurred when a young student kicked an elderly indigenous man in the mouth, while the victim tried in vain to cover his face with bloody hands.[4]  The students forced their hostages to beg forgiveness for their anti-nationalist support of MAS and insult Morales.  Among those taken hostage was the Mayor of Mojocoya, a mainly indigenous area outside of Sucre.    

This blatantly racist act by the students is part of the escalation of racial tensions under a pro-indigenous Morales administration.  The backlash against indigenous people is shocking, but not new.  The initial violence followed by this inhumane act has only heightened the tensions between pro-Sucre, light-skinned elite and the indigenous population. 

Roadblocks and Other Responses

The taking of hostages understandably upset indigenous groups around Sucre, and they retaliated with protests.  Indigenous groups formed a roadblock in Yamparáez, 30 km east of Sucre. Traffic was stopped and had to de diverted, causing inconveniences for trucking and commuting routes.  When asked why they were forming the roadblock, leaders simply replied, “We are just following orders.”[5]  In addition, the Mayor of Mojocoya filed official complaints with the District Attorney’s Office against the Interinsitutional Committee and the university students.[6]  The maltreatment of indigenous supporters will not soon be forgotten.   

Time Line of May 24^th Conflict[7]

♦       3:00 am: The first MAS supporters begin gathering in Sucre in anticipation of Morarles’ visit

♦       8:00 am: Local police arrive at National Stadium to supervise event

♦       8:30 am: Military arrive with tear gas as initial conflict between MAS supporters and students occurs

♦       9:30 am: The Interninstiutional Committee orders the withdrawal of security forces

♦       9:45 am: Police withdraw

♦       10:00 am: Military withdraws

♦       10:10 am: Confrontation between MAS supporters and students breaks out near bridge to airport

♦       10:35 am: RI-2 military withdraw to their headquarters, avoiding further aggression from protestors

♦       10:50 am: Confrontation between indigenous supporters and students in Santa Bárbara sector

♦       11:00 am: Evo Morales officially cancels trip to Sucre[8]

♦       12:00 pm: Confrontation in the Barrio 6 de Agosto

♦       1:00 pm: Students capture Mayor of Mojocoya and four other hostages and march them to the Plaza de 25 de Mayo

♦       2:20 pm: Students take 25 more hostages

♦       3:15 pm: Hostages liberated

♦       5:00 pm: Road block in Yamparáez by indigenous groups

Heightened Tensions and Accusations on Both Sides

The violence in Sucre has increased friction between pro-Sucre officials and indigenous leaders, both blaming the other for the violence and racism.  Indigenous leader, Esteban Urquizo accused Sucre’s mayor, Aydée Nava, of hating indigenous people.  In addition, he blamed the opposition leaders for allowing the hostage situation to take place and called them racists.[9]  Alfredo Rada, a Pro-MAS minister, blamed the institutional committee for encouraging the students to block Morales’ visit and for inciting the subsequent violence that followed.[10] A more radical denouncement came from MAS party member Gustavo Torrico who compared the Interninsitutional Committee to the Nazi party.  He said, “Terrorizing is the best practice of fascism, the fight for terror is their weapon, it’s what the representatives of the [Interninistutional] Committee try to do.”[11][ELB3] 

Both Aydée Nava and Institutional Committee leader Jaime Barrón refuse to take responsibility, instead placing the blame on the Morales Administration.  Nava claimed that by withdrawing police and military, the evaded further violence.  Furthermore, she claimed that the indigenous groups had no reason to protest or form roadblocks.[12]  Barrón insisted the violent protests erupted due to the fatigue of Sucre’s citizens regarding the violence incited by MAS in November.  He cited this protest as an example of Chuquisaca province’s need for autonomy, “How long are we going to tolerate this maltreatment?  This is why want autonomy.”[ELB4] [13]  While no side wants to take the blame, it is clear that the indigenous hostages suffered the most trauma is Sucre’s riots.  Tension is high between indigenous rights supporters, and autonomy proponents.  While the violence came to an end in Sucre, political differences are far from resolved.