There may be a general strike in La Paz on 20th of this month. It looks like it is either going to be all public institutions (which wont be so bad - unless the police join in!) or it could be all private associations also which will be a pain - no buses, no taxis,no bread, not much of anything. It is only for a day though and it is apparently in protest about proposals to move the functions of government to Sucre - bloody stupid idea as it would mean the loss of loads of jobs and Sucre simply doesn't have the infrastructure for it.
1
threeshire
The stoppage ( a better description in this case than "strike") is endorsed - nay, promoted - by both the Municipality and the regional "Prefecture". The latter has said its heavy machinery will blocking all roads out of La Paz.
Neighbourhood committees will mobilize to "encourage" citizens to observe the stoppage,. It can be asssumed that public transport will join in. There are plans for a massive demo at the "Ceja" (the brow of the escarpment between El Alto and La Paz).
My guess is the stoppage will be complete, although there is no reason to expect any disturbances. Anyone wanting to travel out of town by road on Friday should get out the day before, or perhaps in the wee small hours of the morning. I don´t know about the airport -probably there will be transport to and from the early morning flights, but it would be a good idea to check with the airline.
Things will probably start moving again late in the afternoon. Not working on a Friday to demonstrate loyalty to the cause of La Paz is one thing; passing up a Friday evening´s entertainment is a different matter altogether.
2
tunabagel
thanks for the more detailed update. Even if things dostart moving again on Friday evening I would doubt transport will start up again as all the drivers will be drunk by then and wont being willing to work.
3
standanista
<blockquote>Quote
<hr>Neighbourhood committees will mobilize to "encourage" citizens to observe the stoppage<hr></blockquote>
Bolivian democracy in action.
4
misterjingles
Any excuse for a day off work in this country. They´ve got Monday 16 de Julio, that should have been enough.
5
standanista
Bring (i) earplugs for the home-made fireworks; (ii) noseplugs for the smelliness - no traffic pollution to hide the whiff of the drains plus several thousand campesinos in town joining the cabildo (civic gathering); (iii) your own bread. The British Embassy In La Paz website advises that t-shirts bearing slogans such as "¡Sucre Capital!" and "¡Autonomía Carajo!" should not be worn around the city on this day.
7
tunabagel
as long as they dont cut off my supply of Sucre chocolate in the small shop on prado then ill be happy.
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