BOLIVIAN STATE OF SIEGE

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30862, 22 September 1965, Page 17

BOLIVIAN STATE OF SIEGE

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) LA PAZ, Sept. 21. Bolivia was under a nation-wide state of siege last night after an armed uprising of tin miners which resulted in 11 deaths and an undisclosed number of persons injured.

The Bolivian military Government ordered the state of siege in a move to halt the bitter fighting between police and rebellious miners. A Government announce ment said that security force: had crushed the revolt which broke out at thi

Catavisiglo Viente mines high in the Andes south-west of Lima, Peru. The area has long been regarded as a stronghold of supporters of Castro. Reports reaching La Paz said that the latest violence began with a protest against • similar fighting last Saturday > in which two miners and two , police were killed. : The angry miners attacked

a radio station owned by the State mining monopoly, the national security barracks, and other targets, including the Pope Pius XII radio station.

Security forces immediately went into action and within hours the disorders had been quelled, the Government announcement said.

Under a state of siege, a measure short of martial law, individual liberties are suspended, and the preservation of public law is entrusted to the armed forces.

A 45-day state of siege ended on August 6 after similar unrest at tin mines earlier this year. “UNEASY TRUCE”

An uneasy truce has prevailed between the Government and the tin miners since a strike last May turned into eight days of bloodshed that cost at least 70 lives and hundreds wounded. The miners walked out after the military junta exiled their leader, the former Vice-President, Juan Lechin, to Paraguay. The tin mines, which account for more than 80 per cent of Bolivia’s income, have verged close to bankruptcy since the Government began nationalising them 13 years ago.

After the strike, the junta ordered measures to make the mines pay their way and tried to reduce union control.

The overhaul included some layoffs, transfers, forced retirement and pay reductions.