Key facts
- Ernesto Justiniano appointed as Bolivia's new defense minister.
- Justiniano pledged to clear roadblocks caused by ongoing protests.
- Protests began with a workers' strike and escalated to highway blockades.
- Demonstrators demand austerity measures be rolled back and living costs addressed.
- President Rodrigo Paz sent a bill to Congress to authorize joint police and military operations to clear roads.
LA PAZ, June 3 (Reuters) - Bolivia's President Rodrigo Paz has appointed Ernesto Justiniano as the new defense minister, who has pledged to clear roadblocks that have persisted for weeks due to social unrest and mass protests. Justiniano stated that his immediate priorities are to restore normalcy by ensuring passable roads, maintaining supplies, providing medical care, and restoring peace.
The unrest originated from a workers' strike in May, which subsequently led to highway blockades. These blockades have disrupted access to La Paz and El Alto, major cities with a combined population of approximately 2 million people.