Bolivian police have broken up a long-distance march by indigenous protesters who oppose plans to build a road through a rainforest reserve.
Officers wielding truncheons and firing tear gas moved in on the demonstrators' camp, taking people away in buses.
President Evo Morales says the road is vital for development but has offered to hold a referendum on the issue.
Hundreds of people set off last month to march to La Paz but were stopped at Yucomo, with 250km (155 miles) to go.
An estimated 500 police officers moved in late on Sunday afternoon on a camp set up by the marchers.
Protest leaders said dozens of people had been driven away and their whereabouts were unknown.
Local police chief Oscar Munoz said the people were being taken back to their hometowns.
The Bolivian ombudsman, Rolando Villena, criticised what he said was excessive use of force by the police.
"Injured children, disappeared mothers who didn't want to separate from their children - this does not talk well about our democracy. This is not democracy," he said.
DeforestationThe clashes came a day after protesters had briefly held the foreign minister, David Choquehuanca, forcing him to walk with them.
Mr Choquehuanca, who had come to negotiate with the protesters, said the fact that he was freed showed "they want to resolve matters through dialogue".
0 comments:
Post a Comment