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    September 27, 2011

Amazon Highway Construction Stops Amid Protests

   VOA News
   Protesters clash with police officers during a march in La Paz,
   Bolivia. Bolivia's Defense Minister Cecilia Chacon resigned Monday
   after police violently broke up Sunday a protest by indigenous and
   environmentalists groups who were marching towards La Paz
   Photo: AP
   Protesters clash with police officers during a march in La Paz,
   Bolivia. Bolivia's Defense Minister Cecilia Chacon resigned Monday
   after police violently broke up Sunday a protest by indigenous and
   environmentalists groups who were marching towards La Paz, against the
   construction of a government planned highway that would cut through the
   nature preserve, September 26, 2011.

   Bolivian President Evo Morales has suspended construction of a
   controversial highway through a rainforest.
   In a brief television speech late Monday Morales said that Bolivia's
   states will decide whether the Brazilian funded project would continue.
   Earlier Monday, Bolivia's defense minister resigned to protest a police
   crackdown on indigenous groups marching to protest the planned road
   through an Amazon rainforest nature preserve.
   Cecilia Chacon said she did not agree with the government's decision to
   disperse hundreds of demonstrators, who began marching toward the
   capital, La Paz, from the city of Trinidad last month to show their
   opposition to the project.
   President Morales was also critical of the police action against the
   demonstrators, and promised an investigation. On Sunday, riot police
   had fired tear gas at marchers gathered in the Yucumo area. Police
   rounded up several protesters, who were released after area residents
   blocked an airport landing strip to prevent authorities from flying the
   detainees out of the area.
   The demonstrators say the $415 million road project threatens a
   protected area of rainforest, and that their right to be consulted was
   violated.
   The nature preserve is home to Amazon Indian groups, who have lived in
   isolation for years. The local people fear outsiders will try to
   develop the region.
   Morales had angered indigenous people by saying the road would be built
   through the Isiboro-Secure Indigenous Territory National Park "whether
   they like it or not." Activists have said they will be ready with bows
   and arrows when the time comes to protect their land.
   Morales is Bolivia's first indigenous president. In past speeches, he
   has said all nations must respect "Mother Earth" in their environmental
   policies.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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