Bolivia’s Uprising: Dangers & Tasks

The heroic masses of workers, peasants and indigenous peoples of Bolivia are once again showing the way. For weeks now they have shut down the economy through strikes, blockades and demonstrations aimed at bringing down the hated regime of Rodrigo Paz, putting an end to their abject poverty and freeing the country from the pillage of U.S. imperialism.

We salute the revolutionary courage of the Bolivian masses, whose victory could turn the tide throughout Latin America and beyond. However, to get there, conscious fighters must understand the danger facing the uprising and the necessity to act in order to turn the blockades into a victorious revolution.

The Danger: Deadlock Breeds Reaction

The movement has proven its immense power and shown it can threaten the interests of the U.S. and its puppets in government. But paralyzing the country without a clear, immediate plan to take power and reorganize society creates a dangerous vacuum.

The current stalemate is giving the Paz government precious breathing room to organize its counteroffensive. Everyone knows that behind the scenes the U.S. is maneuvering to prop up Paz amid rumors of imperialist cash, intelligence and weaponry flowing to the state and fascist organizations. This is a mortal danger that must be confronted.

Furthermore, the deadlock risks driving sections of the population into the arms of reaction. Bolivia’s massive informal sector—the millions of gremialistas and self-employed workers who barely survive from their daily labor—alongside the urban poor and middle classes are facing exhaustion as supplies dry up and inflation spikes.

If the movement does not act immediately to provide an alternative, the ruling class will weaponize the desperation of these layers to build a base of support for repression.

We cannot put our faith in the illusion that a peaceful transition of power through elections will solve the current economic crisis, as Morales argues. From Venezuela to Cuba, the U.S. has made clear that it will only accept complete subservience. Ultimately, if the masses do not impose their own power, the U.S. will impose its brutal diktats.

The Task: From Blockading to Organizing for Power

To defeat these threats, the movement must go from shutting down the old economy to actively organizing the new one.

Build committees to manage supply and production! Workers, peasants and indigenous organizations must form and coordinate committees throughout the country to seize control of food distribution, medical supplies and fuel. These essentials can be taken from large capitalist interests and distributed to the people. Where the bosses lock out workers or sabotage the economy, the factories and mines must be occupied and production restarted under workers control. By feeding the population and controlling the economy, the revolution will prove to the unorganized masses that the workers and peasants do not stand for chaos. It will show that the producers can run society far better without the bosses, bankers, landowners and other parasites.

The point is not to help manage the old economy. It is to build the scaffolding of a workers, peasants and indigenous government.

No sellout deals! These rank-and-file committees must hold absolute veto power over the leadership. Under no circumstances can the union or peasant leaders be allowed to conclude separate, piecemeal agreements with the Paz regime.

Fraternize with the soldiers! The government is trying to mobilize the army for a bloodbath. The movement must appeal to the soldiers, who are the sons of workers and indigenous peasants. Soldiers must be drawn into the struggle, and we must call on them to form soldiers committees able to keep their officers in check. Crucially, if the officers give the order to fire on the people, soldiers must be ready and prepared to turn their guns around. We cannot wait for the fatal hours to do this. We must reach the soldiers now. With them at our side, the revolution is sure to triumph.

Crush the fascist threat in the egg! Fascist organizations like the Unión Juvenil Cruceñista—the armed men of the oligarchy of the East and potentially armed by the U.S.—are a mortal danger. They will be the shock troops of any repression campaign. Workers and peasants, alongside rank-and-file soldiers, must disarm, isolate and neutralize them now, while the state is weak and before they can consolidate their forces. If we wait, this vermin will only grow in strength.

The Bolivian masses have shown that they have the power not only to defeat Rodrigo Paz but to strike a historic blow against imperialism throughout Latin America. There is no time to lose.

Workers and peasants: Form committees to exercise power!

Down with Paz and all U.S. lackeys!

For the unity of Latin America against U.S. imperialism!