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On July 3, the simmering conflict among La Paz coca growers claimed the life of a Bolivian police officer.
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While breaking up a blockade organized by the Armin Lluta's faction of Adepcoca (the coca grower's association in the La Paz yungas), two members of the Bolivian police were shot. Sergeant Miguel Ángel Quispe Nina of the UTOP was killed. swissinfo.ch/spa/bolivia-conflicto_cocaleros-contin%C3%BAan-en-conflicto-a-pesar-de-di%C3%A1logo-con-el-gobierno-boliviano/46765158
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The government's announcements of the deaths are here: facebook.com/MindeGobierno/posts/4110188795701231 facebook.com/watch/live/?v=229604278988695&ref=watch_permalink
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Following his death, Quispe Nina was posthumously promoted to Cabo (Corporal). A riot-control motorcycle unit of the police was renamed in his honor. facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=362234481989235&id=100870778125608
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The blockade designed to obstruct a meeting called by Elena Flores' pro-MAS faction of coca growers. She promptly extended condolences to Quispa Nina's family. opinion.com.bo/articulo/pais/cocaleros-declaran-dias-duelo-muerte-policia-enfrentamientos-yungas/20210704165018825908.html
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Armin Lluta, the opposing faction leader (and inheritor of that mantle from the imprisoned Franclin Gutiérrez) claimed the incident could have been staged to marginalize him. paginasiete.bo/sociedad/2021/7/5/lluta-dice-que-quieren-usar-la-muerte-del-policia-para-descabezar-su-adepcoca-300138.html
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Nonetheless, the Arce government used the incident to convene talks between the feuding factions in La Paz. (Lluta sent an envoy, fearing his own arrest if he attended.)
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On Monday, July 5, the talks worked out a proposal for new elections within Adepcoca—to be held in 45 days—and a commission to investigate a series of violent incidents associated with the conflict. la-razon.com/nacional/2021/07/05/dialogo-acuerda-elecciones-en-45-dias-en-adepcoca-para-resolver-el-conflicto-cocalero-de-yungas/
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Lluta has insisted on additional time to consult with his grassroots base, currently asking for a pause through July 14.
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Lluta's faction has rejected the agreement… erbol.com.bo/nacional/adepcoca-de-armin-lluta-rechaza-el-acuerdo-con-el-gobierno-aunque-asistir%C3%A1-al-di%C3%A1logo-con