Some 8,000 miners, peasants, retirees, teachers, and others marched from Oruro to the capital city La Paz in an action called by the Bolivian Workers Confederation (COB). At the same time, education and health-care workers went on strike, and peasants who grow coca continued their road blockades after a two-week march on the capital in April.

Facing widening protests, the government agreed to postpone sale of the state-owned postal service and airports, increase retirement pensions, and improve the minimum wage starting next year. The COB has also demanded the release of unionists jailed during the protests and dismissal of charges against them. The labor confederation supports cancellation of the debts of small family farmers, estimated to be in the range of $20 million.

In addition to the actions by workers and peasants, some 3,500 retirees went on a hunger strike to demand a raise in their pensions. After 14 days the government stated it would increase annual pensions from $85 to $130.

The local radio stations reported that retirees celebrated this victory along with their families in several cities. The hunger strike did, however, claim the life of a 71-year-old former miner in Cochabamba, who had fasted for eight days.

Teachers were particularly opposed to the plan to end government funding for schools, and to turn that responsibility over to localities. As part of the agreement, teachers returned to work after Banzer promised the "decentralization" move will be put off until August 2002. The teachers' demand for a 50 percent wage hike was tabled, but the government agreed not to lay off or deduct pay from teachers who supported the labor action, as the minister of education had threatened.

Small coca farmers also held a march from the regions of Chapare and Yungas to La Paz to oppose the government's drive, backed by Washington, to completely eradicate the coca crop in Yungas province. Despite the government repression a small number of farmers were able to take their protest to the capital city. The peasants say they will not stop growing coca, the only way they can currently eke out a living, until the government works with them to come up with a viable alternative crop. The government agreed to postpone their moves to totally destroy the coca until next year. The coca farmers agreed, in turn, to end their road blockades.  
 
 
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