Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz declared a state of emergency across the country on Saturday after more than six weeks of protests and road blockades disrupted transport and economic activity.
Paz said the government had exhausted efforts to resolve the crisis through dialogue and agreements with groups presenting legitimate demands.”After exhausting all avenues of dialogue, reaching agreements with those whose demands were legitimate, and identifying those who used violence in an attempt to destabilise Bolivia, we made the decision to declare a state of emergency across the entire national territory,” Paz said in a televised address.
The emergency declaration comes after weeks of demonstrations and road blockades that have heightened political tensions in the South American nation.
Paz said authorities had distinguished between peaceful protesters and groups accused of using violence to undermine stability, adding that the government would take measures aimed at restoring order across the country.