Bolivian Water Wars

In the midst of twenty years of privatizations, the World Bank demanded Bolivia privatize several water services. The government did so, giving a monopoly of water in some areas to Aguas del Tunari which promptly hiked rates by 35%. Peasant irrigators, known as regantes, and retired union workers, known as jubilados and led by Oscar Olivera, marched into the city. A four day general strike shut down the city. Protests began a month later, and when Olivera and others went to negotiate with government mediators, they were arrested. A state of emergency was declared, and many more leaders were detained. The rank and file engaged in pitched street battles with police, and seven demonstrators were killed. Workers then raided the home of an army captain and beat him to death in retaliation. Police in La Paz and Santa Cruz went on strike demanding pay raises and had street fights with soldiers, some of whom also struck for wage increases. As they returned to work when their wages were increased, teachers joined the original demonstrators with their own demands. Another army captain was caught on tape firing into a crowd, killing high school student Victor Hugo Daza and wounding others, the revolt intensified. Foreign executives fled fearing for their safety, and the water systems were taken from the private company and handed over to Olivera and the other movement leaders.