Bolivian President Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada must bar troops from using lethal force against protesters unless its use is absolutely necessary to protect life, Human Rights Watch said today.
Human Rights Watch also urged the Bolivian government to carry out an immediate investigation into the circumstances, in which some 50 civilians were killed during rioting on Sunday and Monday in El Alto and the capital, La Paz.
“With violence escalating, Bolivia is at the brink of catastrophe,” said José Miguel Vivanco, executive director of the Americas Division of Human Rights Watch. “To avoid further tragic consequences, the government must order the army to act with restraint and must carry out a thorough and impartial investigation into the deaths of the last few days.”
Twenty-five civilians and an army conscript were killed on October 12 in El Alto, a poor industrial city outside La Paz. The city was placed under martial law on October 13, the fifth day of a national protest organized by trade unions and peasant organizations against a proposal to build a pipeline for the export of Bolivia’s natural gas reserves. The government has accused opposition activists of fomenting a coup.
Most of the deaths reportedly occurred when army units backed by tanks tried to secure safe passage for convoys of gasoline tankers headed for La Paz. The capital has been virtually cut off by road blockades for several days. Troops fired tear gas at homes and also opened fire using live ammunition, as well as rubber bullets, on protesters. Heavy machine guns were also reportedly used.
Scores of protesters were hurt, and the great majority of those injured sustained gunshot wounds. Some of the victims were women and children.
Observers said that most of the protesters were armed only with sticks, stones and slingshots, although there were also reports that sticks of dynamite were used at roadblocks.
Yesterday, 26 people were reportedly killed as protests continued in the streets of La Paz, according to Bolivian human rights groups. Thousands of demonstrators had made their way from El Alto to the capital, calling for President Sánchez de Lozada to resign.
“The large number of deaths strongly suggests that security forces failed to exercise proper care in responding to the protests,” said Vivanco.
Under international standards, the intentional use of lethal force by law enforcement officials is permissible only when strictly unavoidable to protect life.
President Sánchez de Lozada on Monday told a news conference that his government had decided to postpone a decision on the exports of natural gas until further consultations are held. Trade union and peasant leaders, however, considered the offer too little, too late, and are stepping up protests in the hope of forcing the government to resign.
