The Deputy Minister of internal Affairs of the Bolivian Rodolfo Illanes was beaten to death by the striking miners. This was announced by the interior Minister of Bolivia, Carlos Romero, Reuters reports.
“At this present time, everything points to the fact that our Deputy Minister of Rodolfo Illanes was brutally and cowardly killed,” he said. According to the Minister, Illanes arrived to hold talks with the protesters in Pandora, located 160 km from the capital La Paz, but the stolen bases striking miners.
The Minister of defence reymi Ferreira, in turn, said that Illanes, who took his post in March 2016, obviously beaten and tortured to death.” He added that the assistants of the victim is now hospitalized in the hospital in La Paz.
“This crime will not go unpunished,” promised Ferreira. He noted that the authorities are now investigating the crime in which he was detained about 100 people.
Protesting miners are demanding changes in legislation in the mining sector. In particular, they are trying to achieve easing of environmental regulations, the granting of work permits to private companies and giving representation to trade unions.
According to Reuters, the national Federation of mining cooperatives of Bolivia, once a strong ally of current President Evo Morales announced an indefinite protest after negotiations on amendments to the legislation will not be introduced. Wednesday, August 24, strike two workers were shot dead by the police. The authorities said that 17 law enforcement officers were injured.
