Andes, Bolivia, Latin America: Week in Review

Police Strike Continues in Bolivia

June 26, 2012 By Staff

Top Story — Protesting police officers brandished weapons and fired tear gas on a crowd of government supporters in La Paz as Bolivia’s police strike entered its fourth day on Monday. A group supportive of Bolivian President Evo Morales had gathered in a square outside the presidential palace when the police, many dressed in civilian clothes and wearing ski masks, used tear gas to disperse the rally. Lower-level police officers in Bolivia say that they are striking for higher wages and would like to earn as much as the Bolivian military. On Sunday, the Bolivian government agreed to pay police the same salary as other public employees with a minimum salary of about $300 a month, but the offer was rejected. Morales has accused political rivals of orchestrating the police strike, but ruled out the use of Bolivian troops to end the strike. Since the strike began, a number of people have been injured and some police stations have been destroyed.

Read more from The Chicago Tribune.

Headlines from the Western Hemisphere

North America

Caribbean

Central America

Andes

Southern Cone

  • Former Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo said in remarks Monday that he would seek to return to power and form a shadow government after he was impeached on Friday.
  • Chile’s LAN airlines completed its takeover of Brazil’s TAM, creating the world’s second-largest airline on Friday.
  • Argentina pulled out of an auto trade pact with Mexico, an issue Mexican officials said Monday that they would take up with the WTO.

Image: bthomso @ Flickr.

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