2008 unrest in Bolivia

Protesters supporting the autonomy of Santa Cruz. Autonomy movements also took place in other Eastern Bolivian departments.

Date	2008
Location	Santa Cruz Department and other eastern Bolivian ones
Result	Referendum held, crisis ends

Belligerents

Bolivia

Armed Forces of Bolivia
Evo Morales supporters

Media Luna

Santa Cruz Department
Pando Department
Beni Department
Tarija Department

Commanders and leaders

Evo Morales

Leopoldo Fernández
Rubén Costas

Bolivia

Media Luna

The 2008 unrest in Bolivia began with protests against President Evo Morales and calls for greater autonomy for the country's eastern departments. Demonstrators escalated the protests by seizing natural gas infrastructure and government buildings. Violence between supporters of Morales and opponents resulted in at least 30 deaths.

On August 19, the eastern departments of Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando, Tarija, and Chuquisaca called strikes and protests in opposition to central government plans to divert part of the national direct tax on hydrocarbons towards its Renta Dignidad pension plan. Brief clashes occurred in the Santa Cruz de la Sierra, capital of Santa Cruz, between police and armed youths enforcing the strike. In Tarija protesters seized and occupied government buildings. In response to the unrest Morales ordered the Bolivian Army to protect oil and gas infrastructure in the five departments.

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Wikipedia