Bolivia's Hunger Strike: What's The Reason?

Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in Latin America and South America, with approximately 39% of its population living in poverty. The country has a history of political and economic instability, with high levels of hunger and poverty that have persisted despite government efforts to address these issues. In this context, hunger strikes have been used as a form of political protest and nonviolent direct action to influence policy decisions and preserve economic policies. The most notable example is the hunger strike by President Hernán Siles Zuazo in 1956, which occurred during a period of economic instability and mass protests against his economic policies. While the strike achieved its immediate goals, it did not resolve Bolivia's underlying issues with hunger and poverty, which continue to affect a significant portion of the population today.

Hunger strikes by Bolivian presidents

Bolivia has experienced several instances of hunger strikes by its presidents, often in response to political and economic instability in the country. Here are some notable examples:

Hernán Siles Zuazo (1956, 1984)

Hernán Siles Zuazo became the President of Bolivia in 1956, a time of political and economic turmoil in the country. Just four years earlier, Bolivia had undergone a revolution, and the country was still stabilizing. Siles Zuazo found himself caught between the demands of powerful labour unions and the need for economic reforms advocated by the United States and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

In December 1956, facing mass protests against his economic policies, Siles Zuazo announced a hunger strike to defend his new economic agenda without resorting to force. The strike lasted a few days, and he successfully persuaded miners to end their strike and return to work. However, despite this short-term success, Bolivia continued to face instability, and Siles Zuazo was eventually pressured out of office.

In October 1984, during his second term as president, Siles Zuazo embarked on another hunger strike. This time, it was in response to an oppositional Senate censure of his administration, accusing him of secretly negotiating with a powerful drug lord. The hunger strike lasted six days and ended after a deal was mediated by the Catholic Church. However, political and economic turmoil continued, and Siles Zuazo was again pressured to call early elections, ultimately losing the presidency in 1985.

Evo Morales (2009)

Bolivian President Evo Morales initiated a hunger strike in 2009 to protest opposition efforts to block an electoral law that was seen as favouring indigenous communities in the country. Morales, the country's first indigenous president, had a history of going without food during his time as a union leader. The strike lasted three days, and Morales ended it after Congress partially approved the framework of the election bill. However, the opposition continued to refuse to provide the quorum needed to vote on the measure.

Strikes by opposition coalitions

In 1956, Bolivia was in a state of political and economic instability, with high levels of hunger, inflation, and unemployment. The previous year, the Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario (MNR) party had led a violent revolution, implementing far-reaching reforms such as nationalising major tin mines and abolishing the feudal landowning system. However, the MNR lacked external support and suffered from internal divisions, and their policies failed to address the issues faced by the Bolivian people.

President Hernán Siles Zuazo, who had taken office that year, found himself caught between the demands of the labour unions, with whom he had agreed to share governing power, and the economic stabilisation plan advocated by the United States and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The unions demanded higher wages and vetoed economic policies that would threaten their members' interests. However, the economy could not support the spending promises that Siles had made to the unions, and he needed loans from backers like the US and the IMF to implement structural adjustment policies.

Siles' economic policies angered the unions and ultimately failed to help the peasants. He lost the support of his own Vice President, Ñuflo Chácez Ortiz, who publicly denounced the plan. As a result, Bolivians began to protest his economic policies, with mining workers going on strike and calls for a general strike. In September 1956, Siles declared a "state of siege" while instructing the protesters not to be shot. He then tried to limit union power by outlawing strikes and breaking up protests with tear gas and mass arrests, but this strategy backfired, failing to quell the demonstrations or gain more supporters.

Recognising the instability of his leadership, Siles announced a hunger strike on December 28, 1956, to defend his new economic policies against the mass protests without resorting to force. His hunger strike gained support from various sectors, including oil workers, newspaper employees, chauffeurs, printers, factory workers, youth movements, Chaco War veterans, and gold mining cooperatives. After just a few days, he called off the fast, and by January 1, he had won over some prior opponents within the MNR party and influenced miners to end their strike and return to work.

While the hunger strike brought a new level of calm and collaboration, Bolivia's political troubles were not over. Siles was eventually pressured out of office and agreed to advance elections, after which he was voted out. However, he remained an active politician and served another presidential term in the 1980s, during which he embarked on another hunger strike, this time with less positive results.

Indigenous rights and consultation

Indigenous Peoples in Bolivia

Bolivia's population is 42% Indigenous, with 36 recognised Indigenous nations and 36 official languages. In mountainous rural areas, where 80% of the population lives below the poverty line, Indigenous communities depend on subsistence agriculture for their food and livelihood. These communities are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters and poor agrarian conditions, which impact their ability to produce enough food.

The Urus, an Indigenous community in the Bolivian highlands, have been threatened by the drying up of Lake Poopó, the second-largest lake in Bolivia, due to poor rains. The World Food Programme (WFP) is working with the Uru communities to improve access to water, grow fresh food, and raise small animals. Other initiatives, such as the construction of energy-efficient mud stoves in schools, have also been implemented to improve the food security of Indigenous communities.

Women's Rights in Bolivia

Women in Bolivia, especially Indigenous women, face high levels of poverty and gender-based violence. They also have limited access to education, with 7% of women in the country having no education at all. This lack of education impacts the nutritional habits of families and contributes to the high levels of malnutrition in the country.

Bolivia has the highest level of undernourishment in South America, with 15.9% of the population not having enough food or nutrients. Malnutrition leads to stunting in children, with approximately 27.1% of children in Bolivia being too short for their age. Additionally, 60% of children are anemic, indicating chronic malnutrition.

Initiatives to Address Indigenous Rights and Consultation

Bolivia has taken steps to address Indigenous rights and consultation, such as enacting a new constitution that gives Indigenous people more rights and strengthens state control. However, there is still work to be done to ensure that all Indigenous communities have access to adequate food and resources.

Poverty and malnutrition rates

Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in Latin America, with approximately 39% of its population living in poverty. The country's poverty rate is one of the highest in South America, and it is even more pronounced in rural areas.

Bolivia has the highest level of undernourishment in South America, with 15.9% of its population not having enough food or eating enough nutrients. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), the main cause of food insecurity in Bolivia is access. This is particularly true in rural communities, where citizens lack access to resources such as food, water, and infrastructure. As a result, 75% of Bolivian households lack regular access to food, and nearly two-thirds of households do not earn enough money to afford sufficient amounts of food.

Malnutrition is a significant issue in Bolivia, with high rates of stunting and anaemia among children. Stunting refers to children being too short for their age, and it is a product of undernourishment and malnutrition. Approximately 27.1% of children in Bolivia are stunted, and about 60% are anemic due to malnutrition.

In addition to undernutrition, Bolivia also faces the problem of overnutrition, with a growing prevalence of overweight and obesity, particularly among women of reproductive age. This is partly due to the consumption of cheap, carbohydrate-rich foods such as rice, which are often high in starches and fats. As a result, approximately one-third of women aged 15-49 are overweight in Bolivia.

The Bolivian government has ambitious development plans and recognizes its citizens' right to adequate food. However, hunger remains a significant problem, and the government is working with organizations like the World Food Programme and Action Against Hunger to address food insecurity and malnutrition in the country.

Government plans to address hunger

Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in Latin America and South America, with approximately 39% of Bolivians living in poverty. The country's government has committed to ending extreme poverty and hunger by 2025, as enshrined in its constitution. Here are some key government plans and initiatives to address hunger:

Right to Adequate Food:

Bolivia's constitution guarantees its citizens the right to adequate food, recognizing that access to food is a basic human right. This commitment is reflected in the Patriotic Agenda 2025, which includes the fight against hunger and the promotion of food sovereignty.

Improving Food Security and Reducing Poverty:

The Bolivian government has made significant progress in improving food security and reducing extreme poverty. While levels of "extreme" poverty are decreasing, there is still a disparity between urban and rural areas, with rural households facing limited access to resources and higher poverty rates. The government aims to address this disparity and ensure that all citizens have access to sufficient, nutritious food.

Enhancing Emergency Preparedness and Resilience:

Bolivia is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, with recurring droughts, floods, and other natural disasters affecting the country's agricultural sector. The government is working to enhance emergency preparedness and build resilience against these events, recognizing that natural disasters can disrupt food production and access.

Addressing Malnutrition and Promoting Healthy Diets:

Malnutrition is a significant issue in Bolivia, particularly among children. The government, in collaboration with organizations like the World Food Programme (WFP), is focusing on promoting healthy diets and addressing nutritional issues, especially for women and indigenous communities. Initiatives such as fortifying school meals with essential nutrients are being implemented to combat malnutrition.

Supporting Small-Scale Farmers and Rural Communities:

Recognizing the reliance of rural communities on small-scale farming, the government is providing support to these farmers to meet their food and nutritional needs. Cash assistance and infrastructure development initiatives are being offered in exchange for building or rehabilitating infrastructure. This two-pronged approach helps improve food security and economic development in rural areas.

Technical Assistance and Capacity Building:

The Bolivian government is receiving technical assistance from organizations like WFP to increase the efficiency, effectiveness, and equity of national programs for food security. This includes capacity building to enhance the government's ability to address food insecurity and malnutrition through technical support, advocacy, and communications.

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