Bolivia: Down with martial law! Defend the blockades!

Rodrigo Paz has declared a state of emergency. He has deployed the army throughout the country and begun attacking the blockades. He has already launched an assault on the blockade in Río Seco in El Alto. Potosí woke up under military occupation, and the army is preparing to attack there.

This grave situation follows the betrayal by COB leader Mario Argollo, who yesterday signed a pact with the government and pledged to lift the blockades. Paz also bought off the miners’ leadership in Huanuni and Colquiri. The Túpac Katari Peasants Confederation and the peasant leaders of the tropic region rightly declared Argollo a traitor and said they will defend the blockades against the government.

This split, caused by the betrayal of the union bureaucracy, is a catastrophe. It must be repudiated. It will deepen the mistrust between workers and peasants, which will be long-lasting. It will allow Paz to drown the people in blood, crush them, and then go after the workers and sell out the country. The treacherous leadership of the COB must be ousted immediately. COB activists must disobey any directive from the union leaders against the blockades and organize independently to defend the peasants now. The working class cannot leave them to fight alone! Defend the blockades!

Soldiers: Do not repress the people! Protect your indigenous brothers and sisters! Turn your weapons against Paz, Trump’s puppet!

We call on every worker, peasant, and opponent of imperialism to mobilize in their own countries to demand: Down with the state of emergency!