Bolivian miners block access to La Paz over disputed pit

Angry Bolivian miners sealed off the nation’s capital Tuesday, blocking roads in a protest over being denied access to a lucrative tin and zinc mine, police said.

The Colquiri mine was recently expropriated by President Evo Morales’ government from the local unit of the Swiss-based commodities giant Glencore.

Starting at the morning rush hour, long caravans of cars formed along the three main roads leading into La Paz. At each of these, crowds of 200 to 300 demonstrating miners stood in their way, Carlos Ticona, head of the highway police, told AFP.

Most freight trucks refrained from leaving garages to make deliveries, local media reported.

The protesting miners are independent workers grouped into cooperatives. They have been denied access to Colquiri, 250 kilometers (155 miles) south of La Paz, since the nationalization.

On Monday the independent miners squared off against state-employed miners who do work Colquiri, sometimes setting off sticks of dynamite. Police had to intervene to separate them.

The state-owned company Comibol announced June 20 it was taking over Colquiri, which until then was worked by Sinchi Wayra, a unit of Glencore. Comibol also took over Glencore machines and equipment.

Since June, Comibol employees have been clashing with private miners at Colquiri.

The Morales government has already nationalized some Glencore assets in Bolivia.