Violence at the Mines

On Thursday morning, at the Huanuni tin mine 290 kilometers south of La Paz, two rival groups of miners wanting more access to the mine broke out into violent conflict leaving between 11 and 16 dead (press reports differ) and scores of others injured. The huge tin deposit is owned by the Bolivian government. The two groups of miners – one group state-employed and the other from independent labor cooperatives – threw sticks of dynamite and one another and fired live rounds.

Both the Bolivian Defensor del Pueblo and the national government of President Morales have intervened to host negotiations and a tentative "peace accord" is in effect at this writing. The government also sent in 700 police to take charge of the mine and prevent another outbreak of violence.

The Democracy Center has not been to the mine or had an opportunity to talk with either of the miner groups involved, nor the government, so we can only report, for the moment, based on a review of today's Bolivian and foreign news coverage.

Here are two articles that are worth reading for those seeking additional information:

Miners Cease Hostilities in Bolivia
By Dan Keane, AP

Mineros firman tregua tras muerte de 11 personas
Los Tiempos