Bolivia cocaleros seize Villa Tunari checkpoint; university election paused under state of exception

Cocaleros from the Tropic of Cochabamba retook the El Castillo anti‑drug checkpoint in Villa Tunari, installing a blockade that forced the Rural Patrol Unit (UMOPAR) to retreat to Chimoré. Their action directly contravenes the decree that bans street, road and highway blockades during Bolivia's state of exception, which has been in force for more than 50 days. The government is reported to be preparing a combined military and police operation in the Cochabamba region amid the escalating tension.

In a separate but related development, the electoral committee overseeing the rector and vice‑rector election at the state university of Tarija suspended the voting process. Citing the state of exception, the committee, led by Vice‑President José Manuel López Barja, has asked the Ministry of Government, the Departmental Electoral Tribunal and the university’s legal counsel for clarification on whether the election can be held legally. No candidates have yet registered, and the committee plans to wait a week for responses before setting a new timetable.