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Journalism of Courage
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This is an archive article published on January 13, 2007
Deadly clashes in Bolivia
Violent protests over a Bolivian state governor8217;s call for more local autonomy killed two and injured more than 60 while playing out a larger power struggle between President Evo Morales and the country8217;s opposition-controlled state governments.
Violent protests over a Bolivian state governor8217;s call for more local autonomy killed two and injured more than 60 while playing out a larger power struggle between President Evo Morales and the country8217;s opposition-controlled state governments.
Bolivian military officials estimated the two rival factions together totaling 30,000 demonstrators8212; most armed with sticks, rocks, baseball bats, and machetes8212; overran police in the streets of Cochabamba on Thursday during the fourth straight day of protests.
Authorities claimed a force of 1,500 soldiers has been dispatched to the city to restore order. But the downtown streets were deserted late Thursday night, empty of both protesters and soldiers.
Pro-Morales protesters have for four days packed the streets and plazas of Cochabamba, 200 km southeast of La Paz, to demand the resignation of Cochabamba state governor Manfred Reyes Villa for his opposition to the president. But on Thursday a counterprotest in support of Reyes met the demonstrators head on. Images of the two sides beating each other with sticks in Cochabamba8217;s picturesque plazas were broadcast on national television.
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