On December 28, Bolivian police officers arrested Santa Cruz Governor Luis Fernando Camacho on terrorism charges. Immediately following the arrest, Camacho’s supporters, who refer to his arrest as a kidnapping, took to the streets as protests erupted across the region. Seerist’s Pulse score indicated declining stability prior to the arrest and kept users aware of ongoing unrest and transportation disruptions.
Pulse, Seerist’s stability score, started a downward trend from 43 before eventually reaching 27 on December 31 – seven points below Bolivia’s 60-day average range
Protesters rejected the arrest of the governor
and blocked an airstrip at Viru Viru International
Airport and temporarily obstructed operations at
El Trompillo National Airport
Protesters in Montero and Santa Cruz City blocked highways, vandalized buildings, burned vehicles, and demanded the liberation of Camacho
Protesters burned vehicles, tires, and sticks in the middle of the streets and set up barricades with bars and sheet metal blocking any through traffic
Civil unrest was predicted to increase, especially in areas supportive of the opposition like Santa Cruz and Cochabamba where operational challenges were also predicted to increase
Political uncertainty was also forecasted asthe relationship between Santa Cruz andLa Paz further deteriorates
As tensions continued to rise, the Bolivian police maintain they have used “rational” amounts of force
In addition to the destruction of state buildings, the Minister of Public Works also fell prey to arsonists as his home was set on fire
*Analysis provided by strategic partnership with Control Risks
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