El Deber reports today that the rural organizations that supported current political party in government, that access to/from Santa Cruz will be blocked. They want the Rural Development and Agriculture Minister, Nemesia Achacollo quits or is removed from office.

Felix Vera, press secretary for the Unique Federation of Campesino workers from Santa Cruz, announced blockade would start Thursday August 11, 2011. The allegations against Achacollo is mainly an internal conflict between organizations that supported current national government. Vera claims that they were never consulted or asked for coordination and the minister should leave office.

http://www.eldeber.com.bo/2011/2011-08-11/vernotaahora.php?id=110810201115

PAT news channel was interviewing another leader from Santa Cruz rural groups, openly an ally of current government, regarding the blockade to Santa Cruz. The reporter questioned why most of the population has to endure such blockade for an “internal” problem of the MAS party. The reply was that this problem is at least four months old and that blockade threats then, will become real now. [the problem is there and mostly an internal political issue, who is to lead or how they divide or “gain” support for their group’s priorities; an internal problem of a political party that generated too many expectations and failed to deliver]

Another social unrest “event” happened in Colomi municipality, Cochabamba. Literally fights in the streets took place yesterday. Two former allied parties, MAS and MSM confronted with sticks, rocks and the result were over 100 people injured and at least two seriously hurt. Colomi elected Mayor is from the MSM, a party that supported and shared ministries and other offices with current ruler party (MAS) between 2006 and sometime around 2009.

Allegations of corruption, the need to gain or keep municipal control, resulted in an open street fight.

http://www.paginasiete.bo/2011-08-11/Nacional/Destacados/36Ad01110811.aspx

Both events are a result of unmet expectations by former allies, that came to power in 2006. In the Santa Cruz case, there are some people that feel they did not receive proper attention; they are seeking some sort of retribution to their support to current president in all the elections, referendums since 2006. The open fight in the streets of Colomi, Cochabamba is also a result of a rupture between MAS and MSM at the time of the second presidential election that current president won.

So, Bolivian society have to endure anarchy, have to see their daily lives and economic activities being taken hostage by internal political fights of current parties and social groups in power.

As I was finishing this post, I heard on the radio that roads between Potosi, Tarija and Chuquisaca will be blocked by public heavy transport group and civic committees, as they demand road maintenance (reported by Panamericana radio around 8:09am, from Tarija).