The executive secretary of the Bolivian Workers' Confederation (COB), Mario Argollo, reported this Tuesday that the union organization has sent a document with an eight-point agenda to the central government, headed by Rodrigo Paz, which it has urged to be addressed "immediately" with the aim of contributing to the pacification of a country that has already been experiencing more than a month of blockades and mobilizations.
"It has been decided in consultation with all stakeholders to send a warning and proposal to the central government for the pacification and recovery of the country, which must be addressed immediately," Argollo stated at a press conference, where he emphasized that "the protest, struggle, and mobilization of the entire country" will continue until a response is received from the Executive.
The labor leader warned that, if there is no response, the confederation will "massify" and "revolutionize" the country so that "what has been requested today and is being fought for" is fulfilled, which, he reiterated, involves "the resignation of the president (of Bolivia, Rodrigo Paz)".
In the list of demands, the COB also calls for the intervention of the Attorney General, Rober Mariaca, to stop any attempt at criminal prosecution or judicialization of protests, and demands the "cessation of persecution" and the "release" of detained demonstrators, in addition to respect for the commitments made during the electoral campaign.
Another point proposes that no "privatization, capitalization, covert concession, or direct or indirect transfer of strategic public companies" to national or foreign private investors be promoted, according to the third section of the list disseminated by the portal Unitel, which adds that the confederation demands a veto on the "interference of transnationals in the management of the State's strategic resources."
In the same vein, the COB proposes that Bolivia not sign "any credit with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)," while demanding the guarantee of fuel price stability, a 100% retirement fund, attention to the demands of various sectors, and the defense of the environment in protected areas, so that parks and nature reserves are kept out of mining, oil, or any destructive exploitation activities.
"Social peace in Bolivia will not be achieved through imposition, stigmatization, or legal persecution. It will be built solely through addressing our demands, with legitimate actors at the table and with the political will to fulfill the commitments signed before the people," the text cited by Unitel states.
Paz calls COB to a dialogue table
In parallel, the central government has sent an invitation to the COB for them to participate this Wednesday in a dialogue table with the aim of advancing the pacification of the country, after more than 45 consecutive days of blockades and protests.
"We await you at 9:00 AM (local time) at the Casa Grande del Pueblo to begin this table of dialogue, consultation, and construction of solutions, based on the reality we are experiencing," said presidential spokesperson, José Luis Gálvez, cited by the abi agency.
Regarding the eight-point document sent by the Bolivian Workers' Confederation, Gálvez indicated that it will be precisely in that negotiation space where "we can mutually debate and construct the answers that the Bolivian people expect."
"Everything can be discussed, but everything must be subject to the law, the Constitution, logic, and common sense. We trust that, in general, we can agree on the things that are fundamental and important for the Bolivian people," the spokesperson insisted in his address to the press.
Gálvez also reiterated the urgency to "immediately pacify" the country and generate the necessary conditions to face, in particular, the health crisis. "This is not about the government, nor about politics, it is about common sense and human values to care for the sick and those in need," he concluded.