* Police started rebellion three days ago over wages
* Gov’t, protest leaders sign deal to end dispute
* Rebel police refuse to respect deal
By Carlos Quiroga
LA PAZ, June 24 (Reuters) – Rebel Bolivian police clashed
with officers trying to return to work on Sunday despite a deal
aimed at ending a three-day uprising over pay that has severely
reduced policing across the Andean country.
Dozens of officers have been hurt and several police
stations destroyed during the protests – a fresh challenge to
President Evo Morales who has faced an upswing in social
conflicts in the past year.
“We’ve got no doubt that there are conspiratorial
intentions,” said Government Minister Carlos Romero, confirming
the rebellion continued among some sectors of the nation’s
police force in several cities.
“We’ve taken an important step, however, toward neutralizing
this coup-mongering action,” he said.
The government often blames social protests on political
rivals bent on destabilizing the natural gas-exporting South
American country.
Protesting police invaded the downtown square in front of
the presidential palace on Sunday, accusing their leaders of
betraying them by signing a deal on pay and conditions. Some
clashed with officers trying to return to their jobs, local
media reported.
As part of the deal the government agreed that the wages of
the country’s roughly 32,000 police officers should be brought
into line with other public-sector employees with a minimum
monthly wage of nearly $300. It also includes improvement
pension benefits.
No serious criminal incidents were reported despite the
absence of police patrols.
(Writing by Helen Popper; Editing by Bill Trott)
