Bolivia anti-government protests turn deadly as tensions rise
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Police officers stand guard as supporters of former Bolivian President Evo Morales and police clash in the town of Vinto, Cochabamba, Bolivia, June 11, 2025. REUTERS/Claudia Morales
LA PAZ (Reuters) -Clashes between anti-government protesters and authorities in Bolivia have left at least four first responders dead, the country's justice minister said on Thursday.
Tensions have intensified in recent days as supporters of former President Evo Morales, who have strangled transportation by blocking highways across the Andean nation, skirmish with officials attempting to clear the roadblocks.
The demonstrations have gained momentum primarily in Bolivia's rural areas, where Morales' supporters have taken to the streets to express their frustration over the former president's disqualification from running in upcoming elections and the country's deteriorating economic situation.
"There are already four officers who have lost their lives," Justice Minister Cesar Siles told reporters in La Paz, adding that some had been shot.
The deceased are three police officers and a firefighter, Bolivia's state news agency reported.
"We can't call these civilian protests anymore. We are talking about paramilitary groups, groups that carry weapons, and we have to respond firmly," Siles said.
The government has deployed military tanks to Llallagua, where the most significant clashes between authorities and protesters have occurred, according to local media reports.
As the protests intensify and the number of casualties increases, local businesses have been severely affected.
"Nobody travels on these roads anymore, and nobody works normally. It really harms us," restaurant owner Marlene Poma told Reuters.
(Reporting by Monica Machicao and Daniel Ramos; Writing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez, Editing by Kylie Madry and Marguerita Choy)
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