Cochabamba constitution clash
From mid-December 2006 to mid-January 2007, the city center of Cochabamba became the site of escalating confrontations between right-wing civic movements advocating for departmental autonomy and left-aligned grassroots groups opposing these demands while supporting the ongoing Constituent Assembly. This period was marked by a pattern of competitive mobilization that culminated in violent and deadly clashes on January 11 and 12, 2007 (Alem Rojo and Rocha Monroy 2008; Asamblea Permanente de Derechos Humanos de Cochabamba 2008; Hernández 2012).
Background:
Tensions first escalated on December 14, when Prefect Manfred Reyes Villa convened a mass rally, or cabildo, on the Prado in Cochabamba, where he publicly rejected the draft constitution being developed in Sucre and advocated for departmental autonomy. This event, followed by similar gatherings in four eastern departments the next day, culminated in the endorsement of the formation of a “Junta Autonómica Democrática de Bolivia” (Los Tiempos 2007a). Reyes Villa’s speech, while framed within the language of autonomy, was interpreted by many as a veiled call for departmental independence, further deepening divisions.
In response, both urban and rural sectors aligned with the political left launched a series of protests demanding Reyes Villa’s resignation and expressing support for the Constituent Assembly and the MAS-led national government. Demonstrations in the Plaza 14 de Septiembre intensified, with significant mobilizations on December 19 and January 4, ultimately evolving into a coordinated campaign involving sustained plaza occupations and strategic highway blockades. On January 10, campesino and cocalero organizations peacefully occupied the Plaza de las Banderas, a historically elite space, signaling a symbolic and tactical assertion of presence. Although the Civic Committee canceled its own cabildo planned for the same plaza, its sympathizers carried out armed demonstrations in surrounding neighborhoods, issuing threats toward those refusing to leave the city.
The Deaths:
The situation reached a critical point on January 11, as right-wing demonstrators amassed north of the Rocha River while leftist protesters maintained their presence in the Plaza de las Banderas. At approximately 3:30 p.m., security forces who had been positioned between the groups withdrew, triggering a violent confrontation. Juan Ticacolque Machaca, a 48-year-old coca grower, was fatally shot in the plaza during the initial moments of the clash (Opinión Bolivia 2007a, 2007b; Los Tiempos 2011). He was one of at least seven individuals injured by live ammunition. Nearby, campesino Luciano Colque Anagua, age 41, was severely beaten, sustaining cranial fractures that led to his death in hospital on February 25 (Los Tiempos 2007b). Later that day, at around 5 p.m., 17-year-old Christian Daniel Urresti Ferrel, affiliated with the civic movement, was beaten to death during a street altercation with campesinos. In total, hundreds were injured in the conflict, which affected both sides of the political divide.
Events That Followed:
Following the fatalities, grassroots movements in urban areas intensified demands for the resignation of Reyes Villa. However, rural demonstrators began to withdraw following appeals from national government authorities for de-escalation. The broader political repercussions of the events ultimately led to a recall referendum in 2008, through which Reyes Villa was removed from office.
| Event | Year | Confirmed | State Perp | State Victim | Sep from State | Protest Domain | Presidential Administration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cochabamba constitution clash | 2007 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Partisan politics | Evo Morales |
| Date | First Name | Surnames | Age | Deceased Affiliation | Intentionality | State responsibility | Perpetrator Affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Jan 2007 | Christian | Urresti | 16 | Urban Movement | Direct | Separate | Cocalero |
| 11 Jan 2007 | Juan | Ticacolque Machaca | 48 | Campesino | Direct | Separate | Urban Movement |
| 11 Jan 2007 | Luciano | Colque | 41 | Cocalero | Direct | Separate | Urban Movement |