Bolivia Government Negotiates as Protests in Silver, Zinc Mine Areas Grow

Bolivian government officials will meet protestors from Potosi today in a bid to resolve regional disputes and end roadblocks that have isolated the county’s principal mining region for a week, curtailing zinc and silver production.

The protests are led by the Potosi Civic Committee and residents of the Coroma region, which is engaged in border disputes with the department of Oruro over limestone deposits. Protestors have blocked major roads in the department since July 29. Representatives from Coroma will meet government officials in the capital city of Sucre today, said Minister of the President Oscar Coca.

A march of 100,000 protestors in the city of Potosi turned violent yesterday as local leaders including Governor Felix Gonzalez were assaulted by mobs, La Razon reported. Gonzalez escaped attack with the help of neighbors, according to the La Paz-based newspaper.

“We exhort the population to put aside all types of pressure and look for a solution,” said Coca at a news conference today. Coca said the protestors’ other demands, including better roads and construction of an airport, would be discussed in Potosi after the roadblocks are lifted.

Production in many of the regions’ silver and zinc mines has ground to a halt, said Alejandro Olmedo, president of the Potosi Chamber of Exporters.

Potosi exported $212 million worth of zinc, $147 million of silver and $40 million of lead in the first quarter of 2010, according to data on the national statistics agency website.

To contact the reporter on this story: Sara Shahriari in La Paz at sshahriari@bloomberg.net

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