Potosi and Oruro have a territory dispute, Coroma and Quillacas are “ayllus” (communities) for both departments, respectively. Last year a group of Potosi farmers planted quinoa in the conflicting region, at the time of the harvest, they were outnumbered by the Quillacas people and could do nothing to protect their harvest and lost it to the Oruro people. Planting season starts in September and there could be turmoil in that region.
This year both departments request the central government to provide police/army protection on those alleged boundaries. So far, Oruro is starting a 24 hour civic strike this coming Monday, August 29, 2011 (in their Cabildo they decided: if government does not offer solutions, they will go on a 48 hour strike and then an indefinite strike); Potosi is scheduling a Cabildo in Coroma on Tuesday, August 30, 2011 to decide what to do, probably similar actions that those of Oruro. Oruro people expect the same kind of meetings Potosi had with the central government.
Bolivian Thoughts | Pensamientos Bolivianos (Bilingual/Bilingüe) 