Key facts
- Police attempted to clear road blockades in La Paz, Bolivia.
- Protesters had blocked access to the city for nearly two weeks.
- The protests are demanding the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz.
- Security forces used tear gas against protesters on a mountainside.
- The scene captured a sense of stillness amidst national tension.
A photograph taken on a highway near La Paz, Bolivia, captures the surreal scene of tear gas drifting across a mountainous landscape during ongoing protests. The image, taken by AP photographer Juan Karita, highlights the tension and uncertainty gripping the nation as protesters have blocked access to the capital for nearly two weeks, demanding the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz.
The operation by security forces to reopen the roads, though ultimately unsuccessful in fully clearing the blockades, underscored the escalating conflict. Karita photographed the scene using a 70-200mm lens as tear gas was deployed towards protesters positioned higher up on the hillside. The vast, open terrain caused the gas to dissipate quickly, contributing to a peculiar sense of calm within the moment of crisis.
Protesters, many of whom are farmers, repeatedly returned to re-establish the roadblocks after they were cleared. Despite the use of tear gas and the throwing of stones, Karita noted the protesters' unusual composure, standing calmly and almost motionlessly within the dissipating gas, creating a striking contrast between the stillness of the scene and the underlying national tension.