Business Leaders Demand Action | Empresarios Exigen Acción

By El Diario:

Business Leaders Demand Immediate Government Action Over Road Blockades

Facade of the Confederation of Private Entrepreneurs of Bolivia. Photo: Nómada News

The Confederation of Private Entrepreneurs of Bolivia (CEPB) expressed concern over the continuing road blockades in various departments across the country and warned that the measure is deepening the deterioration of the national economy, affecting fundamental rights, and putting social stability at risk.

In a statement, the business sector questioned the lack of results in addressing the conflict and called on the government to take immediate decisions to restore traffic on the highways and guarantee the supply of essential products.

“As a country, we are witnessing with astonishment a troubling lack of willingness to engage in dialogue on the part of the leaders promoting these pressure measures, as well as an insufficient capacity for action on the part of the authorities,” the statement said.

The organization argued that the prolongation and increasing radicalization of the blockades are causing growing violations of the rights of millions of people, while also weakening democratic coexistence and social cohesion.

The statement came after the Central Obrera Boliviana and sectors aligned with Evo Morales decided, during a meeting held on Sunday, to maintain the pressure measures and demand the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz Pereira.

In response to that position, the business community rejected the refusal to engage in dialogue and described the blockades as a politically motivated measure, disconnected from social demands and linked to particular interests.

The Confederation warned that Bolivia’s private sector has reached a critical point in terms of sustainability, especially small and medium-sized businesses, which were already facing structural challenges before the current conflict.

According to the statement, the effects of the crisis will not end once the blockades are lifted, but could continue for months or even years, with a direct impact on employment, family incomes, investment, and economic recovery.

The business organization maintained that it is the responsibility of state institutions to exercise their constitutional powers and adopt the necessary actions, within the legal framework, to restore order, protect the rights of the population, and preserve the country’s stability.

“The seriousness of the moment demands immediate decisions. Every day of paralysis and blockades worsens the damage and brings the country closer to a catastrophic situation,” the Confederation warned.

Finally, business leaders called on all parties involved in the conflict to act with maturity, commitment, and common sense, given what they consider to be a critical moment for the country.

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