Miners lift roadblocks after Bolivian minister's death

By Maria Paz Salas

SANTIAGO, Chile

President Evo Morales of Bolivia on Friday declared three days of mourning after the country’s deputy interior minister was beaten to death by striking miners.

The country is in “deep sorry” for the death of Rodolfo Illanes, according to Morales who spoke at a news conference. “I feel that in this mobilization of the cooperative miners there was a political conspiracy and there was no claim for the social sector.”

Those responsible for the murder have been identified and at least 100 miners have been detained since protest Thursday night, Morales said.

Miners have been striking since early last month and holding protests at strategic points across the country, demanding the right to work for private companies and more union representatives and rights, among other things.

Hours after Illanes death was confirmed, miners lifted roadblocks they were using in hopes of forcing government concessions.

Illanes, 56, had traveled to Panduro, located 160 kilometers (100 miles) from the capital of La Paz, to negotiate with miners but was kidnapped by demonstrators and beaten to death, according to the government.

His body was found Friday morning along a highway wrapped in a blanket, according to prosecutor Edwin Blanco, who is leading the case.

The National Federation of Mining Cooperatives began the indefinite protest after negotiations with the government failed on mining legislation.

Earlier this week, violent clashes erupted between miners and police. Two miners were killed by police Wednesday -- the same day miners blocked the main highway in Bolivia that links the major cities of Cochabamba and Oruro.

The tense protests are a departure from Bolivia’s past which has historically seen cooperative miners as key government allies.