Thousands of peasants have thus marched along the country’s roads for more than three weeks, with the sole objective of reaching the capital. These families faced the worst conditions: endless rain, lightning, snow, and intense cold. In spite of the presence of doctors, “many became sick due to the constantly changing weather,” stated José Ortiz, president of the Association of Indigenous Peoples of La Paz [2]. Even if some unfortunately gave their lives for this march, these challenges never shook the will of peasants, like Delfi Mancilla who crossed the mountain on feet with his three-year-old and nine-month-old sons.

This undying determination is rooted in the recognition of injustice. Following the 1953 law, native communities, which represent more than 70% of the population, only received small, low-yield parcels of land called surcofondios [3]. At the same time, the latifundistas [4] received approximately 95% of the land distributed by the state between 1953 and 1992, as rewards for political friendship with the dictators in power. The irony of the situation is that this land often goes unused, with the owners preferring to speculate by mortgaging it: money works, not land. It is precisely these 14 million hectares of unfarmed land that Evo Morales wants to return to the natives.

On 28 November 2006, in the town of El Alto, near the capital, the native communities met up after what was for some a journey of 460 km. Almost 4,000 peasants then marched into La Paz. Assembled on Heroes Square [5], not far from the presidential palace, the protesters implored the opposition party to study the text of law. However, with the opposition absent from parliament meetings, the party effectively prevented the single legislative body from ruling on the matter. After marking one minute of silence to remember the campañeros who died during the march, the union leaders began to denounce the agrarian system, shouting “We will no longer tolerate exploitation,” and “Humiliation, it’s enough.”

Strengthened by the support of government with the power to make a presidential order, thousands of men, women, and children demonstrated peacefully in Murillo Square, located across from the Senate, to demand the reopening of the stalled sessions. As proof that the citizens are supreme, the law on community renewal of agriculture reform was finally passed that evening thanks to the vote of three opposition senators. La Paz then became a scene of celebration, in spite of general fatigue and the distance traveled. “A lot of land in the hands of a few, and many hands without land, that makes no sense,” said Mr. Morales. The mobilization of thousands of peasants has shown that that situation is indeed not tolerable.

Also read: Résonances Latin America N°10 - January 2007