SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia — Regional leaders are claiming a major victory in their long-running struggle with President Evo Morales after a band of citizens forced federal troops to withdraw from the city’s airport over the weekend.
Almost 20,000 people, organized by the local governor and Santa Cruz civic groups, marched Friday on Viru Viru airport, where the government forces had landed the day before in C-130 transport planes. The crowd fought running battles with troops and police, who used tear gas and rubber bullets.
The violence persisted yesterday, when small bombs presumably planted by anti-government groups, exploded outside the homes of Cuban doctors and the Venezuelan consul, who were believed to have supported the airport takeover.
“We made them flee with their tails between their legs,” Santa Cruz governor Ruben Costas declared at a rally in Viru Viru after the troops were flown back to the capital, La Paz.
“Morales feared a bloodbath if he continued to occupy the airport,” said one government official, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
A dispute between local airport workers and national authorities seeking to exert direct control over Santa Cruz air facilities has pitted the national government against regional authorities trying to assert autonomy.
“The government blocked our bank accounts in order to pressure us,” Eugenio Velderamos, vice director of the workers’ Association of Airport Services, told The Washington Times. “This forced us to ask the airlines to make direct payments to us in cash.”
When an American Airlines flight refused to pay $543 demanded by the workers’ group last week, it was held at Viru Viru, leading the government to intervene.
Regional leaders denounced the government move as inspired by Venezuela.
“Soldiers with faces painted in camouflage grease forced us to lie on the ground at gunpoint when they took the control tower, breaking windows and shooting out door locks,” said one airport worker, who claimed that Venezuelan military advisers operated with the assault force.
The population of Santa Cruz became alarmed when a Venezuelan air force transport landed later Thursday and Venezuelan military personnel were spotted by TV cameras alongside Public Works Minister Jose Kinn, who had been sent to take control of the airport.
“Venezuela has taken the airport,” said a member of the Santa Cruz Youth Union manning a roadblock, which autonomy militants set up near the airport Thursday afternoon as marchers arrived by the truckload from the city.
Fears of a foreign intervention already were running high after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez declared the previous Sunday that he would wage “war” on Bolivia if Mr. Morales’ opponents tried to topple him.
“I warn the oligarchy of Bolivia that if they overthrow or assassinate Evo, Venezuela will not remain with its arms crossed,” Mr. Chavez said.
“Chavez wants to turn Viru Viru into a Venezuelan air base,” Mr. Velderamos charged.
Airport officials have revealed flight logs with details of more than 200 Venezuelan and Cuban flights that have landed between January and July. The 164 Venezuelan flights either were military or aircraft belonging to the Venezuelan government-run oil company PDVSA.
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