Members of the Bolivian police in riot gear deploy tear gas during an operation to regain control of the seized Humberto Suarez Roca plant and oil field, in the municipality of Santa Rosa del Sara, Bolivia, on Wednesday. Hundreds of demonstrators stormed the plant a day earlier, forcing operations to halt and blockading the facility to demand President Rodrigo Paz's resignation. Photo by Juan Carlos/EPA
June 3 (UPI) -- Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz sent a bill to Parliament on Wednesday to regulate states of emergency, while two ministers resigned amid a crisis that has entered its fifth week of road blockades.
The crisis, which began in early May with protests over fuel shortages, rising living costs and opposition to economic measures promoted by the government, has left at least five people dead and caused economic losses that exceed $1.6 billion.
Since the inception, more than 100 roadblocks have disrupted the transportation of goods, food and medical supplies, and fuel distribution in different parts of the country.
"This law regulating states of emergency in the nation has already been sent to Parliament, and I hope it will be resolved soon," Paz said during a public statement.
