Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz, backed by Congress, declared a state of emergency and deployed the armed forces across the country on Wednesday in an attempt to disperse the protests and roadblocks that have been keeping the administrative capital, La Paz, and other cities isolated for a month.
The government confirmed a person died during a military and police operation over the weekend, despite initially claiming there had not been any casualties.
Political and social tension continues to escalate as protests that began with demands for better salaries and working conditions have evolved into calls for President Paz to resign, just six months into his administration.
The government accused former president Evo Morales of leading the protests and denounced him for attempting to “tear down” democracy in Bolivia.
Morales and his supporters, however, claim they only joined demonstrations initiated by other sectors dissatisfied with the current center-right administration.
