LatinNews Daily - 23 June 2026

*Isidro Auca, a leader in the coca union Seis Federaciones del Trópico de Cochabamba (SFTC) which is led by former president Evo Morales (2006-2019), has announced a suspension of the union’s involvement in nationwide protests which have been running since mid-May against President Rodrigo Paz. Speaking at a press conference two days after Paz announced a state of exception that enabled him to deploy the armed forces to clear roadblocks on the highway network, Auca said that “this temporary pause isn’t a defeat, we’re implementing a pause to pacify [the country] a bit”. He added that “due to the fault of the national leaders, this fight will continue”. Auca said that the pause would enable the protest movement to “continue organising and preparing itself, because this government… hasn’t been capable of solving the problems that exist”. Paz’s deployment of troops has resulted in a significant drop in the number of roadblocks. According to state news agency ABI, there were just six roadblocks in force as of yesterday afternoon, concentrated in Morales’ stronghold of Cochabamba department. This was down from over 50 roadblocks two days earlier, according to the government spokesperson, José Luis Gálvez.