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Bolivia: Information on relations between unions and the government from 1994 to 1996

According to several sources, the Bolivian Workers' Confederation (Central Obrera Boliviana, COB) launched a general strike in March 1996 to protest the government's education and social security reforms, as well as its plan to privatize the national oil company (IPS 19 Mar. 1996; Latinamerica Press 2 May 1996;  Latin American Weekly Reports 4 Apr. 1996; ibid. 28 Mar. 1996; The Washington Post 17 Apr. 1996). The Washington Post report adds that over 1,000 workers participated in a hunger strike (ibid.), while the Latinamerica Press report adds that one worker was killed, several injured and hundreds incarcerated during the strike (2 May 1996). Amnesty International Report 1997 states that 78 people were arrested and detained for several days following one demonstration in April (1997, 91).

An 8 February 1996 Latin American Weekly Report article states that following fuel price increases in January 1996, hundreds of COB members were arrested during clashes with police.

Amnesty International Report 1997 also states that several trade unionists were killed in confrontations with security forces in 1996 (1997, 91). The report adds that in April 1996, four peasant leaders of the Cochabamba Peasant Workers' Trade Union were arrested and detained by the authorities (ibid.). Additional information on one of the peasant leaders arrested, Alejo Véliz, can be found in the attached 25 April 1996 Latin American Weekly Report article.

Information on other general strikes, held in October and November 1996 and involving land and pension reform, can be found in the attached 17 October 1996 and  28 November 1996 Latin American Weekly Report articles.

For information on the authorities' treatment of COB members during the 1995 three-month general strike, please consult Response to Information Request BOL20823.E of 29 May 1995, available at all Regional Documentation Centres.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Amnesty International. 1997. Amnesty International Report 1997. New York: Amnesty International USA.

InterPress Service (IPS). 19 March 1996. Juan Carlos Rocha. "Bolivia—Labor: Government Inundated by Wave of Strikes." (NEXIS)

Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 2 May 1996. Vol. 28, No. 16. "Bolivia: Another Union Failure."

Latin American Weekly Report. 4 April 1996. "Oil Unions Join in General Strike."

_____. 28 March 1996. "Opposition Backs General Strike."

_____. 8 February 1996. "Protests Greet Fuel Price Increases."

The Washington Post. 17 April 1996. Final Edition. Gabriel Escobar. "Change in Bolivia: Nobody Said It Would Be Popular." (NEXIS)

Attachments

InterPress Service (IPS). 19 March 1996. Juan Carlos Rocha. "Bolivia—Labor: Government Inundated by Wave of Strikes." (NEXIS)

Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 2 May 1996. Vol. 28, No. 16. "Bolivia: Another Union Failure," p. 7.

Latin American Weekly Report [London]. 28 November 1996. "Pension Reform Provokes Strike," p. 551.

_____. 17 October 1996. "Government Hails Land Reform Victory," p. 478.

_____. 25 April 1996. "Police Crackdown in Cochabamba," p. 171.

_____. 4 April 1996. "Oil Unions Join in General Strike," p. 154.

_____. 28 March 1996. "Opposition Backs General Strike," p. 137.

_____. 8 February 1996. "Protests Greet Fuel Price Increases," p. 53.

The Washington Post. 17 April 1996. Final Edition. Gabriel Escobar. "Change in Bolivia: Nobody Said It Would Be Popular." (NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

Andean Newsletter [Lima]. 1996.

Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union Rights. 1995.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1996. 1997.

The Europa World Year Book 1997. 1997.

Human Rights Watch World Report. 1996-1997.

Electronic sources: IRB Databases, Global News Bank, Internet, REFWORLD (UNHCR database), World News Connection (WNC).