Weekly Report - 11 November 2003

The report confirms the deaths of 59 people, including two children. Of the victims, 55 were males, and most were killed by gunfire. Most of the deaths took place in El Alto and La Paz, when the protest movement reached its climax on 12-13 October. Still to be determined is the fate of another 12 people, among whom is a two-month-old baby. Excluded from Ruiz's tally are the three soldiers killed by protesters.

Other tallies, produced more hurriedly have been released by the chief prosecutor's office, which counts 51 dead, and the Asamblea Permanente de Derechos Humanos, which counts 82.

The government of President Carlos Mesa has promised compensation for the families of victims, including reimbursement of medical expenses incurred by an estimated 400 injured. The public ombudsman's report, according to Ruiz, aims to provide an account of 'effects [of the incidents] on the violation of the human rights, health, lives and security of persons, and the manner in which the state is acting to redress these violations.'

The data compiled will serve to help determine the compensations to be paid. it will stop short, though, of apportioning blame for the various 'violations' it identifies.

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