Miners clash with police in Bolivia protesting fuel price hike

Описание: (30 Dec 2025)
FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4627091

ASSOCIATED PRESS
La Paz, Bolivia - 30 December 2025
1. Demonstrators clashing with police during petrol protests
++SHOT 1 PARTLY OVER SOUNDBITE++
2. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Galesio Aguilar, Transport driver:
"The sudden removal (of subsidies) took us by surprise. The hydrocarbon subsidy should be gradual. But there should also be compensation, perhaps in the form of a salary increase."
3. Various of protesters and police clashing, UPSOUND dynamite exploding
4. Protesters confronting police barricades
5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Ricardo Choque, Protest leader:
"I don't want to repeat myself. That's why we have come out. We are humble, respectful, we are respectful, if they don't listen there a second, third time. We have to take to the streets, we have to take to the streets."
8. Various of protesters marching
STORYLINE:
Bolivian miners clashed with police on Tuesday, throwing dynamite and firecrackers, on the eighth day of street protests in La Paz against the elimination of fuel subsidies decreed by center-right President Rodrigo Paz, which led to a rise in gasoline prices.

Police cracked down on the protest with tear gas and rubber bullets against hundreds of demonstrators who detonated small dynamite charges and sought to break through the police cordon to enter the central square where Bolivia's government and legislative buildings are located.

Police did not immediately report any injuries or arrests.

Eight days ago, miners from state-owned companies arrived in La Paz to reject the government's measures.

The protest has been joined by other sectors such as teachers and trade unionists from Indigenous organizations.

Paz, who took office in November, eliminated the subsidy on gasoline and diesel that had kept prices frozen for more than 20 years during the leftist governments of Evo Morales and Luis Arce (2006-2025).

Bolivia imports these fuels due to low local production, which has exacerbated the worst economic crisis the country has experienced in four decades.

The subsidy has been an economic drain and is the main cause of the fiscal deficit, which will reach 13% of gross domestic product this year, according to Economy Minister José Gabriel Espinoza.

So far, the protests have had little impact and have not been supported by other unions due to the end-of-year holidays.

A group of women miners went on hunger strike yesterday to increase the pressure.

AP Video shot by Carlos Guerrero



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