Question

Why was there a mass movement in Bolivia? Give three reasons.​

Answer 1

Answer:

The World Bank had pressurised the government in Bolivia to give up its control of municipal water supply. The government sold these rights for the city of Cochabamba to a multi-national company (MNC). The company immediately increased the price of water by four times. This led to a spontaneous popular protest. In January 2000, a new alliance of labour, human rights and community leaders organised a successful four-day general strike in the city to which the government agreed to negotiate but nothing happened. Another strike followed in April and the government imposed martial law. But the power of the people forced the officials of the MNC to flee the city and made the government concede to all the demands of the protesters. The contract with the MNC was cancelled and water supply was restored to the municipality at old rates. This came to be known as Bolivias water war.

Answer 2

The mass movement of Bolivia in 2000 was the Cochabamba Water War

• In the year 1999, as an essential part of its privatisation program, the Bolivian government carried out an auction of the local Cochabamba water system.
• Many people typically suffered due to water scarcity and as a result, protested earnestly.
• The protests were in direct response to the increased water prices due to privatisation.
• The government wanted to privatize SEMAPA, a municipal water supply body in the specific area.