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Bolivia: Information on the union MNR and the miners' union

The MNR (National Revolutionary Movement) is a political party currently led by Gonzalo Sànchez de Lozada. The party lost power as a result of the presidential and congressional elections of 7 May 1989. The current president is Jaime Paz Zamora of the Revolutionary Left Movement (MIR), who was elected president by the Bolivian Congress on 5 August 1989. [ "Bolivia Declares State of Siege," The Globe and Mail [Toronto], 16 November 1990, p. A3; "How the Last Became First," The Economist [London], 12 August 1989, pp. 33-4; "3d Finisher Gains in Bolivia Runoff Deal," The New York Times, 3 August 1989.]

The main union for miners in Bolivia is the Bolivian Mineworkers' Union (FSTMB). According to Reuters and the Andean Group Report, the FSTMB has lost much of its power as a result of the government closing numerous mines since 1985. One political analyst has gone so far as to call the union a "committee for the unemployed." As quoted in a December 1987 report in the Andean Group Report, the Bolivian Workers' Central (COB), stated that 23,000 mine workers had lost their jobs. The same figure is quoted in a November 1987 report in the Andean Newsletter, which states that 23,000 miners had lost their jobs by that time. [ "Bolivia: Unions Demands Not Satisfied," Andean Newsletter, 9 November 1987, p. 1; "Bolivia: Government Pay Offer Rejected," Andean Group Report, 17 December 1987, p. 6; "Bolivia's Peasants Move Into the Limelight," Andean Group Report, 21 May 1987, pp. 4-5; "Bolivian Electoral Campaign Focuses on Economy," Reuters, 4 May 1989.]

Mine workers have engaged in numerous strikes in recent years. A walkout in March 1986 triggered a declaration of a state of emergency by the government. A larger strike action occurred in August of that year. On 28 August, the government subsequently declared a state of seige and, according to a 2 September report from Inter Press Service, detained 300 people and sent 100 to "camps in the eastern Amazon region." Among those detained was the leader of the FSTMB. [ "COB Leader Among List of Bolivian Detainees," BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 15 September 1986, p. ME/8364/iii; "Bolivia: Talks Between Miners and Government Ends After One Hour," Inter Press Service, 2 September 1986; "Bolivia: Conflicts Continue Between Miners and Government," Andean Newsletter, 12 January 1987, pp. 1-2.]

As a result of an agreement between the government and the FSTMB, 70 of those sent into internal exile were released on 16 September. Reports consulted do not account for the discrepancy between the 100 originally exiled, and the 70 released. Strikes in the tin mines continued. In mid-October, only four of the 14 mines on strike at the time, discontinued their work stoppage. [ "Bolivian Strike Wanes," Latin America Weekly Report, 16 October 1986, WR-86-40, p. 11; "Bolivia: Miners End Fast, Government Releases Politicians," BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 16 September 1986, p. ME/8365/iii.]

A strike in April 1987 led to clashes with police, in which, according to a 1 June 1987 report in the Andean Newsletter, "several people were wounded." [ "Bolivia: Miners' Strike Continues," Andean Newsletter, 1 June 1987, pp. 1-3.]

In its 1989 report, Amnesty International states that in September 1988 three mineworkers were detained briefly after a strike. At the same time, a miner who had been in detention since 1985 was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment on charges of theft. The human rights organization, however, "remained concern that this criminal charge may have been brought against him because of his trade union activities." [ Amnesty International, Amnesty International Report 1989 (London: Amnesty International Publications, 1989), pp. 107-8.]