AMERICA/BOLIVIA – Parishes shelter demonstrators demanding solutions to the mining question

Friday, 24 July 2015

AMERICA/BOLIVIA – Parishes shelter demonstrators demanding solutions to the mining question
Potosì (Agenzia Fides) – Clashes between the Bolivian government and trade unionists groups in Potosì, demanding safety and security for mine workers in the area have continued for 18 days with no agreement in sight. The most recent fighting between police forces and demonstrators left a number of persons injured and many arrested.
"You know that the Church is the people and the people are the Church, and this is why we are thinking of opening our parishes and offering shelter to groups of demonstrators to urge the government to engage in serious dialogue as soon as possible " says Bishop Ricardo Ernesto Centellas Guzmán, of the diocese of Potosì.
In a report sent to Fides, Bishop Centellas announces that 9 parishes will open their doors to provide shelter for the families of those calling for government intervention to reach a solution to the mining problem and obtain the release of persons detained for demonstrating and demanding justice. "It is totally unacceptable that a problem of this sort should reach its 18th day without a settlement " the Bishop concludes.
Tension is high and appears to be spreading to La Paz. Many different social groups are calling for government intervention to meet the demands of the miners in the area of Potosì, an old problem, postponed time and time again.
(CE) (Agenzia Fides, 24/07/2015)


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