Bolivian public transport workers in eight of the country's nine departments went on a 24-hour strike Tuesday against a proposed bill which they say will adversely affect them.

Executive Secretary of Bolivia's Confederation of Transport Drivers Franklin Duran said that 90 percent of transport workers in the participating cities joined the strike, and the main borders were also blocked with the help of the heavy transportation sector.

The drivers union is protesting against a bill that would allow the authorities to confiscate a vehicle used to smuggle drugs or other contrabands, or linked to money laundering or corruption, regardless of whether the owner was involved in the crime or not.

Transport workers said passenger buses could technically be seized by the authorities, noting seven articles included in the Asset Recovery bill are "unconstitutional."

In Bolivia's major cities, striking workers blocked downtown areas, forcing many people to walk to work.

Bolivian President Evo Morales condemned the strike, saying unions fighting against the bill were defending drug trafficking and smuggling.

The bill, designed to help Bolivia combat drug trafficking, was approved by Bolivia's Chamber of Deputies or lower house on Oct. 1. Endi

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)