Entre Rios coca eradication
On October 6, 2002, 300 coca growers in Ichoa Alto, Entre Ríos, Chapare, clashed throughout the morning with dozens of members of a Joint Eradication Task Force (FTC) engaged in coca eradication activities. The police claimed that they were attacked while trying to set up a camp and were forced fire on the cocaleros in self-defense. Cocaleros countered that officers were in fact attempting to enter the area to begin eradication when they ran into campesinos who resisted. They claimed that the officers then begin use gas and firearms against cocaleros who were only armed with sticks and stones.
Cocalero Sabino Toledo (34), from Mizque, was shot in the conflict at died at the Ivirgarzama Hospital from bullet wounds to the chest and right arm (La Prensa 2002). He was the father of five children. Three other cocaleros were hospitalized with gunshot wounds: At least three cocaleros were hospitalized with gunshot wounds: Diógenes Melgarejo (35) from Cliza, who was shot in the left ankle; Erasmo Aguirre (18), who was shot in the left shoulder and chest; and Doroteo Fuentes (39) from the Ichoa Central community, who was shot in the right thigh (La Haine 2002).
Fourteen other cocaleros were arrested for allegedly pulling a UMOPAR police officer from his car, beating and then releasing him, and burning the vehicle. All but three were soon released (La Haine 2002). An investigation later determined that the police acted in self-defense; no one was charged in the beating of the UMOPAR police officer. Cocaleros reportedly did not allow officials access to Toledo's body for examination (“Country Reports on Human Rights Practices-Bolivia” 2003).