After a 16-year legal battle, former head of state Gonzalo "Goni" Sánchez de Lozada must compensate the families of victims extrajudicially killed in the 2003 Gas War.
Known as the epicenter of anti-austerity rebellion during Bolivia’s Gas War, El Alto remains a powerful example of the potential for local movements to leverage their cities to shape national politics.
This week, a jury found Bolivia’s former president, Gonzalo “Goni” Sánchez de Lozada and his Minister of Defense guilty of extrajudicial killings in 2003 in a landmark case. For their victims, it’s a welcome victory.
Last month, Bolivians marked the tenth anniversary of "Black October," a watershed moment in a popular uprising that culminated with the election of Evo Morales. Today, both Morales and popular sectors view the legacy of Black October through the lens of their own political agendas.
