00:00The Union Federation of Mining Workers of Bolivia urges all its members to massively
00:05join the mobilization against the non-liberal decree imposed by the government which ends
00:10the fuel subsidy. This happens after the miners' unions and the Bolivian Labour Centre were
00:17unable to meet with President Rodrigo Paz and the Ministerial Cabinet to discuss the
00:23scope of Reform 5503. The union groups questioned the government's credibility in office given
00:30the call for dialogue since the meeting did not take place. In La Paz, the unions and other
00:35sectors carried out new protest to demand the national government to repel the decree which
00:41sets new fuel prices and benefits the private sector.
00:45Meanwhile, the unions and the local police force have clashed with the potential to
00:54trigger violent actions. In front of the government building, the police threw firecrackers, tear
01:00gas and suspected explosives at the protesters to disperse the demonstration. At the same
01:06time, some arrests were made and several people were injured by the explosions, including a
01:11police officer.
01:20Among other adverse effects, the decree 55.03 impacts the fuels and ends subsidies for gasoline
01:26and diesel, establishing new market prices for these fuels. It affects the free imports,
01:32as it would authorise individuals and private legal entities to purchase petroleum derivatives directly
01:38at preterminal prices. It will also promote wage reductions by establishing cuts in the salaries
01:45of workers and civil servants.
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