The Deputy Minister of Transportation of Bolivia, Israel Ticona, died
during the night of this Tuesday in a traffic accident when he was on his way to resolve a
transport blockade
.
The death occurred when
the vehicle transporting him collided with one of the trucks
that was stopped on the side of the road.
Now, after the death of the official,
the Government holds the protesters responsible
and announced that it will take legal action against the organizers of the blockade.
"This vice minister was going to the blocking point to persuade the measure to be lifted, allowing the circulation of hundreds of stopped vehicles," confirmed the Minister of the Interior Government, Eduardo del Castillo.
At a press conference, the government official reported that the vehicle in which the vice minister was traveling collided with a truck that was parked on the road and that it was presumed
"could not move forward due to the protest
. "
The accident occurred after 11 p.m.
In addition to Ticona's death, government sources confirmed that the driver of the vehicle was "injured" and under observation, with serious head injuries, and that another person was injured as a result of the accident: the coordinator of the Ministry of Public Works.
Ticona's body was transported by helicopter from the accident site to the eastern capital.
From where he was transferred to the Pampa de la Isla morgue, according to the newspaper
La Razón
of that country.
Bolivia: the moment when Ticona's body is transported by helicopter, after the accident suffered.
Photo: Video capture.
Ticona was heading from Santa Cruz to Cuatro Cañadas to hold meetings with a transport sector from Chuiquitanía who were blocking the route due to a protest.
The protest was led by Armando Apaza
, from the Gran Chiquitanía Transport Federation, who demands the maintenance of roads, the leveling of the cost of tolls and operating licenses for new fuel stations in the provinces of Santa Cruz, region which is the economic engine of Bolivia.
The minister described the protest in the region, 147 kilometers northeast of Santa Cruz, as
"unjustified and political
," given the protesters' refusal to engage in dialogue despite the Government's proposal to hold working groups to address their demands.
The complaint that the Government will make
Del Castillo indicated that an investigation will begin into Ticona's death.
And he took aim directly at those responsible for the blockade, against whom he accused at least six criminal actions.
“The crimes that we will charge them with are association to prevent or hinder the exercise of functions, attack against the security of means of transport, attack against the security of public service.
Also sabotage, attack on work and the crime of manslaughter,” the minister explained.
The Government pointed out that Apaza, leader of the transporters, was the main person responsible for encouraging the blockade "without a single justification."
The blockade of transporters in that area was lifted
by the Protestants, after the death of Vice Minister Ticona was confirmed, according to local media.
With information from EFE
DP