BOLIVIAN MINE NAMED "FREE TERRITORY"
The miners at the Huanuni tin mine held a general assembly September 21, according to the La Paz El Diario, at which they voted to stage a 48-hour strike as a token of mourning for the victims killed and wounded by armed forces at Catavi and Siglo XX.
They also declared the interior of their mine to be "free territory" and decided to slow down their work to the level of the wages they are now receiving after the cuts put into effect by the Barrientos military junta.
The miners began by organizing a march in which they carried the power drills used in the mine. They were joined by workers in the area and by members of the Karazapato cooperative. They chanted, "Death to the Military Junta and General Barrientos!"
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A motorized column of troops sought to block the parade, The "state of siege’ decreed by Barrientos bars all such demonstrations.
The miners changed their route, circling around the troops, The commander of the troops sought to stop the miners by arguing violently with their leaders.
. However, they invited a delegation to address the assembly. The invitation was accepted and two officers spoke. They took a conciliatory tone.
The miners then succeeded in getting three company officials to attend the assembly.
In face of the officers and the company officials, the miners said that it was impossible for them_to extract minerals for wages amounting to only 280 pesos a month [$22.40].
One of the officers, Major Juan Soliz, went so far as to promise the miners that wage increases would be put through during October,
INTEREST