Clowns cheer up Bolivia protest kids
- 12 years ago
Indigenous Bolivians camp outside the vice presidential palace in La Paz, in protest at a road plan that would cross their land.
The demonstrators had marched for 64 days and 372 miles - from Bolivia's eastern lowlands to the capital - angry over a proposed multi million dollar road that would cut through indigenous territories.
Among the protesters are young children who marched with their families.
In an attempt to offer them some respite, volunteers have donned clown outfits to help cheer up the kids.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PAOLA ALI, CORDINATOR FOR PLANET PLAN SAYING:
"These children have truly gone through some very difficult things and to see how they enjoy playing, the energy, the happiness. Being able to get them out of what they are going through, even just for a little while, is beautiful."
Protesters have complained of unsanitary conditions in their encampment.
According to some reports, around 90 marchers, mostly children and elderly, have been hospitalized.
Travis Brecher, Reuters
The demonstrators had marched for 64 days and 372 miles - from Bolivia's eastern lowlands to the capital - angry over a proposed multi million dollar road that would cut through indigenous territories.
Among the protesters are young children who marched with their families.
In an attempt to offer them some respite, volunteers have donned clown outfits to help cheer up the kids.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PAOLA ALI, CORDINATOR FOR PLANET PLAN SAYING:
"These children have truly gone through some very difficult things and to see how they enjoy playing, the energy, the happiness. Being able to get them out of what they are going through, even just for a little while, is beautiful."
Protesters have complained of unsanitary conditions in their encampment.
According to some reports, around 90 marchers, mostly children and elderly, have been hospitalized.
Travis Brecher, Reuters