Bolivia's Turbulent Year: 2008'S Political And Social Chaos

In 2008, Bolivia was in the midst of a political crisis, with protests against President Evo Morales and calls for autonomy in the country's eastern departments. The demonstrations escalated with the seizure of natural gas infrastructure and government buildings. This led to violent clashes between supporters and opponents of Morales, resulting in multiple deaths. The situation was further exacerbated by the involvement of the media, with journalists facing attacks, harassment, and threats. The political turmoil culminated in a state of emergency being declared in the Pando department, with Bolivian troops taking control of the airport in Cobija. The crisis had significant implications for Bolivia's relations with the United States, leading to the expulsion of ambassadors from both countries.

Protests against President Evo Morales

In 2008, protests against Morales escalated as demonstrators demanded greater autonomy for the country's eastern departments and opposed central government plans to divert part of the national direct tax on hydrocarbons towards its Renta Dignidad pension plan. The eastern departments of Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando, Tarija, and Chuquisaca called for strikes and protests, and demonstrators seized natural gas infrastructure and government buildings. The situation escalated further as violence broke out between supporters and opponents of Morales, culminating in the Porvenir massacre on September 11, which resulted in at least 15 deaths.

The governors of the eastern departments warned that if the government did not change its course, the protests could lead to a cutoff of natural gas exports to Argentina and Brazil. They also threatened to set up roadblocks and demanded the withdrawal of government troops. In response, Morales accused the governors of launching a "civil coup" against his government and ordered the Bolivian Army to protect oil and gas infrastructure in the five departments.

The situation continued to deteriorate, with protesters causing an explosion of a natural gas pipeline on September 10, and clashes erupting between supporters and opponents in the northeastern town of Cobija, resulting in 20 deaths. The Bolivian authorities declared a state of emergency in Pando, suspending constitutional guarantees and imposing restrictions on movement and gatherings. Morales accused the governor of Pando of orchestrating a massacre of farmers supporting him and arrested the governor, Leopoldo Fernández, who was charged with committing genocide.

The political crisis in Bolivia also had international repercussions, with Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez warning of military operations in Bolivia if Morales was overthrown or killed. Additionally, Morales expelled the US ambassador, Philip Goldberg, accusing him of conspiring against democracy and encouraging civil unrest. In response, the US expelled Bolivia's ambassador to Washington, and relations between the two countries deteriorated.

Violence between supporters and opponents of Morales

On August 19, the eastern departments of Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando, Tarija, and Chuquisaca called strikes and protests in opposition to central government plans to divert part of the national direct tax on hydrocarbons towards its Renta Dignidad pension plan. Brief clashes occurred in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, the capital of Santa Cruz, between police and armed youths enforcing the strike. In Tarija, protesters seized and occupied government buildings. In response to the unrest, Morales ordered the Bolivian Army to protect oil and gas infrastructure in the five departments.

On September 3, the governors of the departments warned that if the government did not change its course, the protests could lead to a cut-off of natural gas exports to Argentina and Brazil. They also threatened to set up roadblocks and demanded government troops withdraw from Trinidad, the capital of Beni department, following clashes between MPs and protesters attempting to seize facilities of the National Tax Service in the city. President Morales accused the governors of launching a "civil coup" against his government.

On September 10, protesters caused an explosion of a natural gas pipeline, which the head of Bolivia's state energy company called a "terrorist attack". This resulted in a 10% cut in exports to Brazil, and Morales sent additional troops to the region. The next day, clashes erupted between supporters and opponents of the government in the northeastern town of Cobija, the capital of Pando, resulting in 20 deaths. Morales warned that his government's patience with the unrest was limited.

The violence between supporters and opponents of Morales was not limited to physical clashes. The news media were caught in the middle of the power struggle, with dozens of journalists attacked, harassed, and threatened. This limited coverage of the country's bitter political divide. Tensions between Morales' government and private media reached new heights after the national police commander said in January that police intelligence had spied on opposition politicians and a critical journalist.

The political turmoil and violence continued into September, with anti-government protests erupting in several regions and opposition groups denouncing the planned constitutional changes and demanding a greater share of natural gas revenue. Clashes between government supporters and opposition groups left 28 people dead and dozens injured, according to local and international press reports.

The Porvenir massacre

The massacre occurred during a period of heightened political tension and unrest in Bolivia. In the lead-up to the massacre, there were protests and strikes by opponents of the Morales government, particularly in the eastern departments of Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando, Tarija, and Chuquisaca. The protesters seized natural gas infrastructure and government buildings, demanding greater autonomy for the eastern regions and objecting to central government plans for hydrocarbon taxes. In response, supporters of Morales and his constitutional reforms mobilized across these regions.

On September 11, a group of protesters, including hundreds of indigenous peasants, was travelling to the departmental capital of Cobija to demonstrate against departmental government actions. However, they were met with roadblocks near the town of Porvenir and clashed with armed supporters of the departmental government. During the violent confrontation, a departmental government employee and a supporter were killed, and the protesters took hostages, some of whom were beaten but later released to the police.

As the demonstrators continued towards Porvenir, armed individuals reportedly opened fire indiscriminately on the group, resulting in the deaths of 16 protesters and injuries to dozens more. The pursuit and violence continued even as the protesters fled the town, with some of the wounded allegedly beaten further while being transported to the hospital in ambulances.

Declaring a state of emergency in Pando

On September 12, 2008, Bolivia declared a state of emergency in Pando, suspending constitutional guarantees and imposing a range of restrictions on residents. The declaration came after violent clashes between supporters and opponents of President Evo Morales in the northeastern town of Cobija, the capital of Pando, which resulted in 20 deaths.

During the state of emergency, private vehicles without authorization were banned from the streets, groups were prohibited from meeting, and bars, restaurants, and discos had to close at midnight. Residents were also prohibited from carrying firearms. The Bolivian army took control of the airport in Cobija and prepared to retake the city.

The state of emergency was declared after protesters caused an explosion in a natural gas pipeline on September 10, which the head of Bolivia's state energy company called a "terrorist attack". This attack resulted in a 10% cut in natural gas exports to Brazil. The unrest in Pando was part of a wider political crisis in Bolivia in 2008, with protests against President Morales and calls for greater autonomy for the country's eastern departments.

Bolivia's autonomy referendums

In 2008, Bolivia was rocked by a political crisis that saw protests against President Evo Morales and calls for greater autonomy for the country's eastern departments. The crisis was fuelled by rising ethnic tensions between Bolivia's indigenous majority, centred in the capital, La Paz, and the European-descended opposition based in the eastern lowlands.

The eastern departments of Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando, Tarija, and Chuquisaca called strikes and protests in August 2008 in opposition to central government plans to divert part of the national direct tax on hydrocarbons towards its Renta Dignidad pension plan. Brief clashes occurred between police and armed youths in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, the capital of Santa Cruz, and protesters seized and occupied government buildings in Tarija.

The situation escalated on September 10, 2008, when protesters caused an explosion of a natural gas pipeline, resulting in a 10% cut in exports to Brazil. The next day, clashes erupted between supporters and opponents of the government in the northeastern town of Cobija, the capital of Pando, resulting in 20 deaths.

Bolivia's political crisis culminated in the Porvenir massacre on September 11, 2008, which resulted in at least 15 deaths. The violence between supporters of Morales and opponents highlighted the deep divisions within the country and the fragile state of its democratic institutions.

In the midst of the unrest, opposition party governors called a series of referendums to declare local autonomy from Bolivia's central government. The opposition, especially in the eastern lowlands, which are rich in oil and natural gas, sought to retain control over locally generated profits and land titles.

On May 4, 2008, voters in Santa Cruz overwhelmingly backed political autonomy in a referendum, with more than 84% voting in favour. However, President Morales rejected the referendum as unconstitutional and boycotted the vote. The referendum sparked further protests in eastern Santa Cruz, and several journalists working for private media were attacked and harassed as political tensions spiralled.

The autonomy referendums and the broader political crisis in Bolivia in 2008 underscored the country's deep political, ethnic, and regional divisions. The crisis ultimately led to a state of emergency being declared in Pando and the arrest of the prefect of Pando, Leopoldo Fernández, on charges of terrorism, murder, and criminal association for his alleged responsibility in the Pando killings.

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