TENSIONS, PROTESTS MOUNT IN BOLIVIA AS SOCIAL CRISIS DEEPENS

LA PAZ, Bolivia - Coca farmers, union activists and others set out Monday
on a 250-mile march from Cochabamba to La Paz, demanding salary increases,
the easing of coca leaf eradication and reversing privatization of state
companies.

They plan to arrive April 23, joining marchers from a separate protest by
coca farmers from Los Yungas, near La Paz, where coca eradication started
up this month.

The protesters have threatened to start road blockades throughout the
country on April 25 unless the government responds to their demands.

Government officials dubbed the movement a "narco-march," and Government
Minister Guillermo Fortun said there is no way that those marching from
Cochabamba will arrive in La Paz, nor will they be allowed to begin the
road blockades.

The same sectors involved in the march triggered the protests that spread
violence in April and September last year, leaving 20 dead and more than
170 wounded.

This time the government appears better prepared, and already sent troops
to Achacachi, the Andean center of discontent during last year's protests.
But organizers of the protest also appear in better shape with a broader
base of support.

The embattled Banzer government President Hugo Banzer has been facing
increasing pressure in recent days.

School teachers and health workers shut down many schools and all but the
emergency rooms of some hospitals throughout the country the first week of
the month, and the union activists staged protests that snarled traffic
throughout La Paz last Thursday.

The U.S. Embassy closed two hours earlier than usual Monday after reports
that it would be the target of a protest. Police sealed-off streets around
the embassy and posted some 30 officers guarding the building. About 50
students arrived chanting anti-U.S. slogans but there were no confrontations.