Embattled Bolivia leader promises 'to listen' to protests
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz on Wednesday announced plans to reshuffle his cabinet to make it more inclusive following weeks of anti-government protests.
"We need to reorganize a cabinet that must be able to listen," Paz told reporters, adding that he would also set up a separate body to allow the Indigenous groups, farmers, miners and other workers who have been in the street "to be part of the decision-making process."
Bolivians began demonstrating and erecting roadblocks in early May to demand salary increases, stable fuel supplies and measures to mitigate the worst economic crisis in 40 years.
The protests have since snowballed into a revolt, marked by calls for Paz's resignation, just six months after he took office.
Foreign Minister Fernando Aramayo accused the demonstrators of trying to "disrupt the democratic order."
Addressing the Organization of American States (OAS), he said the protests were "aimed at creating conditions for institutional destabilization, weakening the government...and disrupting the democratic order."
But Paz's later announcement of a cabinet reshuffle signalled the adoption of a more conciliatory tone.
Paz's election brought an end to two decades of socialist rule launched by Indigenous coca farmer Evo Morales in the mid-2000s.
He immediately set about trying to shore up the economy by scrapping fuel subsidies that ate into the country's dollar reserves, but acute fuel shortages remain and inflation has rocketed.
On Wednesday, hundreds of Indigenous farmers and transport workers held a peaceful march in La Paz, the political capital.
On Monday, riot police had fought running battles for hours with protesters who attempted to march on government buildings in protests marked by looting and arson.
- Shadow of Morales -
Paz's administration has accused Morales -- a fugitive from justice accused of having a sexual relationship with a minor while in office -- of fomenting a coup.
The 66-year-old, who served three terms, attempted to make a comeback last year but was barred from seeking a fourth term as leader.
He has expressed solidarity with the protesters.
Washington has expressed strong support for Paz, part of a new right-wing tide in Latin America, and echoed his "coup" allegations against the protesters.
On Wednesday, Bolivia said it was expelling Colombia's ambassador following "interference" by left-wing President Gustavo Petro in the country's affairs.
Petro, known for his broadsides against right-wing governments, labelled the protests a "popular insurrection" against "geopolitical arrogance" in a social media post.
He slammed the expulsion of his ambassador, saying it smacked of "extremism."
The roadblocks erected by the demonstrators across the country have disrupted supplies of fuel, food and medicine to La Paz, causing widespread shortages.
"We have almost nothing left, it's impossible to even find an egg," Sheyla Caya, 43, told AFP as she queued to buy a chicken.
J.Pavlidis--AN-GR
