SW News: Monsignor Giovani Arana, the secretary general of the Bolivian Episcopal Conference, appealed to the government urgently to "assume its responsibilities and seek solutions to the conflicts that afflict the people by restoring peace and providing an urgent response to the people's demands" on behalf of the Permanent Episcopal Council.

In the statement titled ‘We are Bolivians’, the bishops recalled the alarming escalation of violence that was taking place in the country, where human lives were being threatened by clashes between Bolivian brothers that aroused resentment and hatred.

The Bishops quoted Pope Francis' assertion that "love builds bridges" from the encyclical "Fratelli Tutti" restating the possibility of deadly and irreversible effects for the nation from the current violence. The government has a responsibility to uphold the dignity of every Bolivian, safeguard their human rights, and address social issues, said the bishops. It also has a responsibility to always look out for the interests of the general populace. The bishops underlined that the best approach to address disputes that affect everyone is through dialogue, without ulterior motives or special interests, and in the case of the Census, "using objective criteria of impartial professionals."

"An urgent and unconditional dialogue is required to overcome the problems that give rise to these confrontations, which we regrettably see dangerously expanding across the nation," the statement said.

The Santa Cruz region, which is regarded as the nation's economic engine, has gone on an indefinite strike for 13 days to request that the government conduct the population census in 2023 rather than 2024. Due to the difficulties brought on by the epidemic, the administration stated that the census would now take place in 2024 instead of this year.

The Civic Committee of Santa Cruz claimed that this delay harmed the area's economy and political representation in future elections. Conflicts between supporters and opponents of the strike broke out and they expanded to other Bolivian cities. Civic groups in Bolivia threatened to stage a nationwide protest beginning on November 7 if the Luis Arce administration did not move forward the population count to 2023. With the paucity of food and fuel, the protesters' strike and roadblocks are now having an impact. Due to a "fear of shortage," the Bolivian government has temporarily outlawed the export of six staple foods.

The scarcity of gasoline also severely jeopardizes the continuity of care in Catholic hospitals by making it impossible to transport patients and impeding the efforts of medical and nursing personnel to treat patients regularly. The Bolivian Council of the Laity has released a declaration condemning and denouncing the wrongdoings occurring throughout the nation, particularly in the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

Luis Arce, the president of Bolivia, released a message on social media stating that the discussion to settle the census problem is still open and announcing the formation of a technical commission to determine the precise date. The administration also said that it will begin negotiations as soon as possible to agree on a date for the census.