Ruptly
"Dozens of indigenous people and farmers marched to the city of La Paz to demand the repeal of Law 1720, promoted by the Government of Bolivia, which they say could compromise their way of life and access to their lands. Footage captured on Monday shows protesters moving through the city streets while holding flags and signs with messages including 'Indigenous peoples in resistance'. The farmers arrived in La Paz after 27 days of marching on foot from departments in the country’s Amazon region such as Pando and Beni. "We do not want our territories to be divided, sold, or fragmented because that is what the law wants, the rich want more land, they want to become richer. We will not allow it," said marcher Maria Mariaca. The farmers warned that they will not cease their protests until the authorities address their demands and petition, in order to prevent the land conversion contemplated in the law. "Later it will affect us [law 1720] because we have children, we have grandchildren. We want them to live a free life in our territory, working our crops, as we have always done," stated the president of Subcentral Tierras Bajas, Mercedes Parada. Law 1720, enacted on April 10, gives powers to the National Institute of Agrarian Reform (INRA) to carry out voluntary conversions of small agricultural properties to medium-sized ones, with the aim of accessing bank loans and improving productivity. The farmers argue that by using their properties as collateral to access a loan, it opens the door for their lands to be seized or auctioned off. However, the Ministry of Productive Development, Rural and Water maintains that access to formal bank loans seeks to promote investment and does not imply dispossession."
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