Tens of thousands of Bolivians have taken to the streets to protest against President Evo Morales's handling of demonstrations opposing the construction of a controversial highway through an Amazon rainforest reserve.
Protests took place in several major cities on Wednesday in defence of the reserve, which is inhabited by thousands of indigenous people.
Demonstrators heaped reproach on Morales, the first indigenous person to be elected president, for a violent government crackdown on earlier protests.
"This government is the worst and it should go because it attacked human beings, the indigenous compatriots who had given it their support, and now it's turned its back on them," said Juan Pinto, a 44-year-old schoolteacher who took part in a march that brought central La Paz, the capital, to a standstill.
The president issued a statement Wednesday night saying the protests have been a "profound wake-up call".
"I could never order such violence as has been seen by the Bolivian people,'' Morales said in a statement, asking forgiveness of protesters' the families and urging indigenous groups to talk to the government.
Bolivia's main labour federation had called a 24-hour general strike on Wednesday, though many businesses remained open. Schools and health services were affected by the strike.
Several thousand people from the Central Obrera Boliviana (COB) marched from the suburb town of El Alto to La Paz, however, crippling traffic.
Authorities called the strike unnecessary, as Morales had earlier ordered the suspension of the project pending a referendum on whether it should go forward.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (on whom be peace) stated:
“After me you will see injustice, rights suppressed and others given preference over you. You will see matters that you will disapprove of”. When asked what the commandment was in such circumstances, the Prophet (on whom be peace) replied, “pay their (leaders) rights to them and ask God for your rights.”
The Ahmadiyya Post, World. Sept 29, 2011
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