Wednesday, August 26th 2026 - 08:00 UTC
At least ten organisations are defying the state of emergency
Bolivia's government deployed military and police units on Tuesday in the municipality of Yapacaní, in Santa Cruz department, ahead of announced road blockades called by farming organisations against the decree that raised the price of diesel for large consumers. Hours later, the deputy interior minister acknowledged that the same measure must be annulled.
“Faced with the public call to blockade in Yapacaní, a preventive deployment of the armed forces was ordered to assist the Bolivian Police. The mission is to prevent the blockade, protect the road and, above all, avoid clashes,” said Defence Minister Ernesto Justiniano. He specified that under the state of emergency in force people may “march, protest, meet and express disagreement,” but not block roads or impede free movement. The route remained clear throughout the day.
In parallel, deputy minister Hernán Paredes met leaders at the headquarters of the Intercultural Federation of Agricultural Producers and reached an agreement. “The supreme decree the government issued is indeed causing many problems in its application,” he said. “I have informed the cabinet, which has said it does want to repeal it, but it cannot stay as it is, because it has not met its objective.” He explained the aim was for large consumers to import their own fuel and for small producers to be guaranteed the subsidised supply, which did not happen. Farm leader Juan Cáceres said the executive had committed to seeking annulment within 48 hours and warned that otherwise the organisations would decide on further action.
