Bolivia has launched an early morning riot on the streets outside La Paz Objections

The military and security forces battled protests outside La Paz, Bolivia, in an attempt to clear roads that were closed due to anti-government protests.

A total of 3,500 soldiers and police were deployed as part of the operation which began on Saturday morning. At least 57 people were arrested, according to the citizens’ ombudsman’s office.

Miners, school teachers, cultural groups and unions have helped organize the protests, which aim to express anger against the government of centre-right President Rodrigo Paz.

Bolivia is in the midst of an unprecedented economic crisis, which appears to be the worst the country has seen in decades.

The government’s foreign exchange has decreased, because imports from Bolivia have decreased.

Some of it was gas. At the end of the 1900s, they found large amounts of oil, and for about 30 years, this gas destroyed the economy of Bolivia, which made South America the largest exporter of electricity.

But in 2022, the situation changed, amid poor management and a lack of resources. Since then, Bolivia has started importing oil, which is adding to its economic problems.

Meanwhile, many areas in the country are facing long fuel lines and shortages of essential items such as food.

Paz, who was elected in October, campaigned on economic relief. But since leaving office, he has caused outrage by ending a dozen years of oil subsidies and insisting that state-owned companies be kept private.

Earlier this month, the protests forced the repeal of the land reform measure, Law 1720, which critics say could be used to expropriate small rural landowners, instead of large ones.

The government of Bolivia said that in the past weeks they have been blocked in 22 roads throughout the country.

Some of these protesters have called for Paz to step down: His election in October marked the end of nearly two decades of rule by the Movement for Socialism (MAS).

But Paz’s office has criticized the protests for cutting off essential services in cities like La Paz, which is the seat of government.

Food prices have risen since the center opened, and the government says three people have died after failing to reach hospitals.

According to the spokesperson of the president Jose Luis Galvez, Saturday’s violation of the protesters was designed to create a “humanitarian approach” to ensure that the hospitals of La Paz are free to run.

Earlier this week, Paz also thanked his Argentine counterpart, Javier Milei, for providing aid to Bolivia.

“This strengthening of cooperation not only strengthens the long-standing relationship between our countries, but also represents a necessary relief in our communities in times of crisis,” Paz wrote on Friday.

Milei responded by accusing the protesters of being anti-democratic.

“Argentina stands for the people of Bolivia and supports their democratically elected authorities against those who want to disrupt the country and block the path to freedom and progress,” the Argentine president said.