Bolivia. Massive mobilization in Cochabamba announces radicalization of measures against the adjustment decree

This article was originally published in La Izquierda Diario de Bolivia.

The morning of December 26the center of Cochabamba witnessed a great organized show of force. From 8:30 bases of the Departmental Workers’ Central (COD): factory workers, builders, union members, teachers, health sector, cleaning workers, domestic workers and students among many other sectors that made up the column of the march against the adjusting decree 5503 of the Government of Rodrigo Pazdemonstrating that the mobilizations continue with greater force and from below.

The workers mobilized through the main arteries of the city. The march traveled along Aroma Avenue, San Martín, Plaza Colón, 25 de Mayo, Heroínas Avenue, Ayacucho, and finally Santivañez Street, to make its massive entrance to Plaza 14 de Septiembre. From the headquarters of the Federation of Factory Workers of Cochabamba, the central speeches under slogans of class unity, defense of the economic resources of the people and repeal of decree 5503.

Declarations inspired by the demands of the bases, encourage a path of unified struggle from the workers

From the headquarters of the Federation of Factory Workers of Cochabamba, the top departmental leaders of the COD and affiliated unions expressed their firm rejection of decree 5503. Their interventions inspired by the demands of the bases, were loaded with criticism of the government and calls for unity for the defense of the working class and the rights of the majority as a whole.

Alberto Ojeda, advisor to the CODcondemned the illegal and corrupt nature of the decree:

This decree, the only thing it does is favor the big capitalists and load all economic resources against the workers… between midnight and midnight they have launched this decree. Once again, it is determining that those who pay for the economic crisis will be the workers, just as it was done with decree 21,060.

Calling on the conscience and unity of the workers to repeal the decree, the Executive of the Federation of Builders, Mirko Aguilar, expressed solidarity with the struggle of the workers in La Paz and ratified his sector’s commitment to unity:

Comrades, I believe it is time to fight… we will travel to La Paz because we need reinforcements

In the speeches the concern of the scope of the decree, which goes beyond the issue of rising fuel pricescalling for a deeper study of the decree and its consequences. Abraham Santos, executive of the Federation of Factoriesdeclared:

The bottom line is that, unfortunately, [el gobierno] is trying to hand over our natural resources… there are many articles that go against the Bolivian population in general… We are going to radicalize the measures, we are going to move to La Paz and we are going to get closer to the government palace… Cochabamba has always been the mainstay of the struggle.

Finally, Edgar Salazar, top executive of the CODaddressed with a final message, stating that mobilization will continue in an organic and proactive manner:

We are in a state of emergency, we have to get out… look for new fighting strategies… [el decreto] He is forgiving politicians, rich friends, but the heaviest bill is being passed on to the Bolivian people [por lo mismo] We will always be in the streets, united until we get it repealed.

The mobilizations continue

The march concluded with high morale and reinforced determination of the mobilized sectors. In that framework, the COD announced that in the coming days it will convene an expanded departmental meeting to analyze the content of Decree 5503 and define new actions organic mobilization, among them a possible national march towards La Paz.

The government of Rodrigo Paz thus receives a clear message from Cochabamba, historical bastion of the popular struggleJust as in 2000 the people rose up against the privatization of water, today the working class and the precarious majorities are once again standing up against attempts to make them pay for the crisis.

From the Revolutionary Workers League – Fourth International (LOR-CI)part of the International Network La Izquierda Diario in Bolivia, we consider the voice of the organized and mobilized bases relevant, only in this way, From below, the leaders can be forced to mobilize and massify the measures together with the people and all the sectors in struggle.. We believe that there is no truce when it comes to defending historically won rights. The unity of the workers together with all the sectors in struggle, built from the bases, will set the course of this battle in the streets.

Only the unity of the workers and all sectors in struggle can open the way to confront the entire package of adjustment. It is essential to demand that the union leaders, if they are willing to carry their resolutions to the end, call for open assemblies and a large meeting of workers, farmers and poor people, where the broadest participation is guaranteed to be able to deploy the self-organization of the majorities, against the plundering of natural resources and any policy that seeks to offload the costs of the crisis on the backs of the working people.

We will continue in every action of struggle to defeat DS 5503 and advance in the construction of a political alternative of the working class and from below.

For self-organization, from below, long live open assemblies!
For the unity of city and rural workers!
We demand the release of those detained for fighting!
For a fighting plan that prepares the general strike until DS 5503 is defeated!