Cochabamba Water War

Cochabamba Water War
Name	Cochabamba Water War
Date	January–April 2000
Place	Cochabamba, Bolivia
Result	Repeal of privatization contract; creation of municipal and cooperative water arrangements
Combatant1	Residents of Cochabamba Department; unions; peasant federations
Combatant2	Bolivian government; Aguas del Tunari; Bechtel
Casualties	several killed, hundreds injured, arrests

Cochabamba Water War was a series of mass protests, strikes, and confrontations in Cochabamba, Bolivia in early 2000 over the privatization of municipal water services. The conflict pitted urban neighborhoods, rural communities, labor federations, indigenous organizations, and student groups against private operators and state authorities, culminating in the cancellation of a contract held by an international consortium. The events became a focal point for debates about neoliberalism, privatization, water rights, and social movements in Latin America.

Background

The dispute followed a 1997 privatization move under the New Economic Policy era that involved the Bolivian government and international lenders like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. A concession was granted in 1999 to Aguas del Tunari, a consortium led by Bechtel Corporation, after negotiations involving the Bolivian concession regulator and municipal authorities in Cochabamba Department. Preceding episodes included structural adjustment programs tied to the Bolivian Peaceful Revolution era reforms, and prior water governance challenges affected neighborhoods across Andes cities such as La Paz, El Alto, and Sucre. Actors from the Central Obrera Boliviana and regional peasant federations had previously contested privatizations in sectors like mining and natural gas reforms.

Timeline of Protests

In January 2000, urban protests erupted in response to tariff increases and contract clauses favoring Aguas del Tunari. Demonstrations escalated through February with coordinated strikes by the Civic Committee of Cochabamba and the Federación Sindical Única de Trabajadores Campesinos de Cochabamba. In March, a general strike and road blockades mobilized groups from Quillacollo, Sicaya, and highland communities near Tunari National Park. Key confrontations occurred in April with the occupation of government buildings and clashes involving riot police from units associated with the Ministry of Defense (Bolivia). The protests culminated in the resignation of local officials and the revocation of the concession when the Bolivian Congress debated emergency measures.

Key Actors and Organizations

Prominent participants included the La Coordinadora por la Defensa del Agua y de la Vida (often called La Coordinadora), local neighborhood committees, the Confederación Sindical Única de Trabajadores Campesinos de Cochabamba (CSUTCB), the Bartolina Sisa National Federation, and student organizations from the Universidad Mayor de San Simón. Opposition featured Aguas del Tunari, corporate leadership linked to Bechtel Corporation, the concessionaire’s lawyers, and Bolivian private sector groups such as the Cámara de Industria y Comercio and the Federación de Empresarios Privados. National figures included politicians from parties like Movimiento al Socialismo and parliamentary actors in the Plurinational Legislative Assembly who later invoked the events. International NGOs such as Food & Water Watch and networks like WaterJustice monitored developments.

Causes and Grievances

Protesters cited immediate grievances like a reported 50–200% tariff increase specified in concession clauses, metering controversies, and the exclusivity granted to Aguas del Tunari. Broader catalysts included dissatisfaction with the World Bank policy prescriptions tied to loan conditionalities, the influence of structural adjustment measures on public services, and long-standing tensions over access to water in peri-urban areas and irrigation communities in the Valle Alto. Indigenous leaders emphasized collective rights defended in instruments influenced by discussions at forums like the World Social Forum and complaints lodged with bodies such as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Labor unions linked the struggle to earlier conflicts over privatization in sectors like telecommunications and electricity.

Government Response and Repression

The national administration invoked emergency laws and deployed security forces including police and military contingents associated with the Ministry of Defense (Bolivia) to restore order. Confrontations led to fatalities, injuries, and mass arrests, provoking criticism from human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Local mayors and ministers engaged in negotiations with La Coordinadora but also pursued legal actions referencing contracts approved by the Central Bank of Bolivia and concession oversight mechanisms. International corporate representatives appealed to diplomatic channels including the United States Department of State and leveraged investment protection claims under bilateral investment treaties like those modeled after NAFTA provisions.

Outcomes and Legal/Policy Changes

The immediate outcome was repeal of the concession and the return of water management to municipal authorities and emergent cooperatives in Cochabamba. Subsequent legal and institutional reforms included debates in the Bolivian Constitution process and municipal ordinances regulating water services, as well as litigation involving international arbitration claims by corporate actors against the Bolivian state. The events influenced policy shifts toward community-managed water systems and inspired legislative measures in other municipalities such as Sucre and Tarija. Long-term implications reverberated in disputes over foreign direct investment protections and renegotiations of public service concessions.

International Reaction and Impact on Water Privatization

Global reactions ranged from solidarity demonstrations in cities like New York City, London, and Paris to policy critiques by the World Bank and advocacy by transnational networks including Jubilee 2000 and Attac. The conflict became a case study in debates at forums like the World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings and the United Nations dialogues on water, contributing to campaigns for recognition of water as a human right in resolutions at the United Nations General Assembly. The case influenced corporate approaches to public utilities among firms in sectors represented by groups like the International Finance Corporation and underlined tensions in investment arbitration exemplified later in disputes involving multinational firms.

Category:History of Bolivia Category:Water politics Category:Social movements in South America