By Laura V. Mar on May 14, 2026
Mining mobilization responds to a critical situation marked by fuel shortages and the shortage of explosive material. foto: EFE.
Miners in Bolivia joined together on May 13 to protests and road blockades against President Rodrigo Paz, demanding solutions to critical issues like fuel scarcity and legislative exclusion, as national dissent intensifies.
The Federation of Mining Cooperatives of La Paz announced its decision to join the ongoing marches and road blockades across Bolivia starting this Wednesday.
This escalated measure comes after far-right President Rodrigo Paz failed to attend a crucial dialogue table, forcing the vital mining sector to publicly demand solutions to their pressing regional and productive concerns.
The entry of miners into the protests signifies a substantial increase in pressure on the current Bolivian administration, highlighting a growing national discontent.
Ladislao Pardo, president of the Federation, emphatically ratified the decision to mobilize, sharply criticizing President Rodrigo Paz’s absence from the scheduled dialogue. Pardo indicated that the sector had prioritized avenues of understanding and negotiation, but the persistent lack of concrete responses from the Executive Power and various Ministries left the cooperativists with no alternative but to mobilize. In this sense, they now join other prominent social sectors in Bolivia, escalating the demands for immediate governmental action and accountability.
The mining mobilization directly responds to a critical situation characterized by several severe operational hindrances. Key among these are the alarming scarcity of fuel, a dire shortage of essential explosive material and significant delays in the liberation of new areas designated for mining exploitation. Pardo further stated that workers feel marginalized from critical legislative decisions and strongly criticized recent governmental regulations, especially those impacting the hydrocarbon sector and the Public Management entity, perceived as detrimental to the livelihoods and operational capacity of miners across the country.
The decision to coordinate actions with other social movements emerged after a resolution presented on May 8 received no attention from the Paz’s Government. The incorporation of La Paz miners significantly strengthens the indefinite strike already being maintained by the Bolivian Workers’ Central (COB, in Spanish) alongside influential peasant sectors.
The text reads: “10th day of union mobilizations in La Paz, within the framework of the strike ordered by the Central Obrera against the Government.”
The Bolivian Workers’ Central (COB, in Spanish) continues its indefinite general strike for a 10th consecutive day, escalating pressure against the Government of Rodrigo Paz. The widespread mobilization includes extensive blockades in the vital cities of La Paz and El Alto, primarily driven by demands for a substantial salary increase and over 111 additional labor grievances.
The protest has seen a dramatic escalation with the massive incorporation of Aymara campesinos, arriving from 29 provinces, who are actively reinforcing the existing blockades across the Bolivian highlands.
While protesters across Bolivia demand immediate answers to the escalating economic crisis, with some powerful sectors even calling for the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz, the miners of La Paz have issued a stern warning. They assert that their bases will decisively reinforce the pressure measures, signaling an unwavering commitment to their cause. The mining guild explicitly denounced that the sovereignty of workers is being violated through political exclusion and precarious operational conditions. For these reasons, miners pledge to maintain their presence on the roads until their demands are fully heard and addressed by the central administration, staunchly defending their labor and productive rights across Bolivia.
The broader protests initially began with specific demands related to the supply of certified quality fuel, a crucial salary increase and the repeal of Law 1720. However, the movement has since evolved, broadening its scope to encompass more fundamental political exigencies. These now include calls for significant changes in various governmental authorities and, ultimately, the resignation of the Head of State. This escalation reflects a deep-seated frustration with systemic issues and a desire for more profound governmental reform in Bolivia.
Source: Popular Resistance