Bolivia protests: Clashes erupt as police clear roadblocks amid shortages
Quick Look
玻利維亞行政首都拉巴斯因抗議總統巴斯（Rodrigo Paz）的民眾設置路障，引發物資短缺與警民衝突。巴斯不排除宣布緊急狀態，因其親商政策引發民怨。
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Bolivia is experiencing its worst economic crisis since the 1980s, marked by severe shortages of fuel and foreign exchange, and runaway inflation. President Rodrigo Paz's government, in an effort to stem the loss of foreign reserves, removed a 20-year-old fuel subsidy, leading to public discontent.
玻利維亞行政首都拉巴斯遭到抗議右翼總統巴斯（Rodrigo Paz）的民眾封鎖道路，警方為清除路障讓物資運入，今天與群眾爆發衝突。巴斯則不排除宣布緊急狀態。
法新社報導，玻利維亞抗議群眾在全國50多個地點設置路障，包括在拉巴斯（La Paz）周圍，導致食物、燃料和藥品短缺。
在拉巴斯就讀的學生庫提拉（Marco Cuttila）受訪時表示：「我們不知道還能撐多久，...有時候連吃的都不夠。」
鎮暴警察今天清晨開始行動，在多個地點清除路上障礙物，並投擲催淚瓦斯驅散試圖守住路障的抗議群眾，雙方對抗持續數小時。
儘管有些運貨車輛成功通行，但到了今天傍晚，部分地區又再度被抗議群眾占據。
親商的巴斯6個月前上任時，玻利維亞正處於1980年代以來最嚴重經濟危機，燃料與外匯極度短缺，通貨膨脹失控。他為了讓外匯存底停止流失，取消已實施20年的燃料補貼，但至今玻利維亞燃料供應仍不穩，引發民怨。
巴斯雖已承諾會回應工會與原住民族群的不滿，但要求他下台的聲浪仍持續不斷。
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
President Paz may declare a state of emergency.
Possible · Within days
Further clashes between police and protesters are likely.
Very likely · Within days
Essential goods shortages will persist or worsen if roadblocks continue.
Very likely · Within days
Open Questions
- Will President Paz declare a state of emergency?
- How long will the roadblocks continue?
- What specific measures will the government take to address the protesters' demands?
- What is the extent of the shortages in food, fuel, and medicine?
