La Paz, Bolivia — Clashes broke out in Bolivia’s capital on Thursday as police used tear gas to disperse a crowd of miners trying to breach the government palace and set off small dynamite charges, a tactic that has become increasingly common during this second week of nationwide unrest.
It was the latest incident in growing social unrest challenging the administration President Rodrigo PazWho was sworn in as president late last year and ushered in a new era in the Andean nation after nearly 20 years of one-party rule.
Thousands of miners descended on the city of La Paz to demand labor reforms and fuel, among other things, but as the hours passed, they began chanting slogans demanding the president’s resignation.
Blockades and marches have disrupted Bolivia’s capital in recent days. Earlier in the day, rural schoolteachers marched in the city center to demand higher pay, further tightening their grip on the capital.
The latest wave of protests was initially triggered by farmers demanding the repeal of the law allowing mortgage of land. Although the president signed a decree repealing the law on Wednesday night and called for an end to the unrest, demonstrations have continued to spread.
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