Yapacaní land clash

Yapacaní land clash, 2002: On December 11, 2001, Jose Luis Velazquez was shot and killed by Bolivian security forces after a violent skirmish between security forces and squatters, who were protesting for improved property rights and sanitation (Agencia de Noticias Fides, 12/12/2001). In September, government officials promised to get the ball rolling on a forty-point list created by the protestors, yet the inaction of the politicians drove the group to act ([Agencia de Noticias Fides] (http://www.noticiasfides.com/nacional/sociedad/prefecto-responsabiliza- a-dirigente-colonizador-por-enfrentamientos-200311.), 12/13/2001). A strike, which became the protest, was called by the Civic Committee, yet uniformed men began provoking the protestors around 6:30pm, according to an eyewitness. The report from the Yapacaní Peasant Center aligns with this, suggesting authorities spurred the attack by throwing tear gas, firing bullets, and chasing protestors for blocks (Agencia de Noticias Fides, 12/12/2001). The report continues, claiming the confrontation lasted until midnight, and security forces hold responsibility for damaged houses and kicked- in doors. A local paper counters the claims of the eyewitness, suggesting a group of men had been squatting in the city center, at which point they began assaulting a vehicle with a military officer in it that was headed to Santa Cruz (Agencia de Noticias Fides, 12/12/2001). The report then goes on to say the police fired tear gas at the squatters. This aligns with the police report, which suggests the police were attempting to alleviate the protest when they were suddenly attacked by protestors. According to a relative, Velazquez was not a member of the group of squatters protesting that day, merely a civilian caught in the crossfire (Agencia de Noticias Fides, 12/12/2001). Other than Velazquez, it has been reported that there were 16 others who sustained injuries during the clash. Ultimately, the report produced by the Human Rights Commission admonishes Hugo Banzer and Jose Quiroga with the responsibility of the fifty Bolivians who died from 2000-2002 as a result of clashes with authorities (Agencia de Noticias Fides, 1/23/2002).**

|** Victim was killed when 30 hooded people shot up the premises of the Federation of Colonizers. | "At daybreak on Monday 18 November, en Yapacaní, an owner also in conflict over the land of a peasant union, organised and mobilised hooded and armed people to evict the farmers. During the action, they killed Luciano Jaldín, a peasant farmer from a neighbouring community, and other farmers were reported disappeared. The event sparked off a tense situation in the area, in which the state was unable to intervene, leaving it virtually open to the rule of the strongest. After only two weeks, 4 people had been murdered, among them peasant farmers and estate workers. A delegation led by the Ombud/sman that visited the area verified the presence of camps of armed persons and the use of instruments of torture." (IWGIA 2003:150-151)