COB, Transport Unions and Producers Reject "Dieselazo," Threaten Blockades

Sectors nationwide rejected Decree 5716's diesel-price hike (dubbed the "dieselazo"). The COB rejected the decree and convened an undated national emergency assembly (ampliado) to define protest measures, saying the government is "the only responsible party for social instability" for breaking prior agreements under a state of exception that formally bars blockades and strikes. The Confederación de Choferes (transport drivers), led by Secretary General Víctor Tarqui, declared its own state of emergency and set a national assembly for Monday, Sep 21 to decide on measures; La Paz's interprovincial transport federation separately announced a departmental road blockade starting that same Monday. Tanker-truck operators (cisterneros) suspended fuel loading and unloading operations indefinitely pending resolution, and agricultural producers in Yapacaní, Santa Cruz — the site of earlier August blockades over the GRACOS diesel tier — symbolically burned copies of the decree at an emergency sector meeting. The Hydrocarbons, Presidency and Economy ministers said they remained open to dialogue with any sector that requested it.