Baku-APA. Bolivia responded to last week's murder of a government official by announcing a crackdown on mining cooperatives on Thursday, saying it would return contracts signed between them and private companies to state control, APA reports quoting Reuters.
The beaten body of Deputy Interior Minister Rodolfo Illanes was found by the side of the road last week, hours after he had approached mining protesters to talk over their concerns.
Having seen their income hit by the global commodities slowdown, miners had been demanding increased rights to work with private companies, relaxed environmental restrictions and more subsidies. At least two were killed in clashes with police in the run-up to the murder.
President Evo Morales has accused the right-wing opposition of encouraging the protests to foment discord, and his socialist government hit back Thursday with tighter restrictions for co-operatives.
Five decrees were agreed on after an emergency cabinet meeting, Mining Minister Cesar Navarro said at a press conference.
They include "reverting to state control those areas in which contracts have been signed between mining cooperatives and private companies," he said.
Bolivia's mining sector is dominated by 120,000 miners working in around 1,700 co-operatives, who have received tax concessions and other benefits from the government in recent years.
They have 31 contracts with private firms in force, according to the mining ministry.
Former deputy mining minister Hector Cordova told Reuters the ruling should not affect large companies, which have contracts with state miner Comibol.
He added, "Those smaller companies who joined with cooperatives to take advantage of tax breaks and other benefits will see their interests decrease."
Follow us on Telegram
t.me/apanewsaz
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on TikTok
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on X
