The merchants known as "mañaneros" were brutally attacked by a violent group that tried to prevent them from setting up their stalls in the area. | Photo: La Voz de Tajira

La Paz, December 11 (RHC)-- The Permanent Assembly of Human Rights of Bolivia (APDHB) denounced that this Saturday there was an attempt of genocide in the Barrio Lindo of the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, while the Government blamed the violence on Governor Fernando Camacho and the civic Rómulo Calvo.

The Unión Juvenil Cruceñista violently expelled street vendors from the Barrio Lindo fair with blows and dynamite, leaving dozens injured, some of whom were hospitalized.  According to the organization, the attempted massacre was motivated by race and hatred towards street vendors. The security forces reported at least thirty wounded.

"The whole of this social group is migrant and belongs to the social segment that works to obtain daily economic resources to sustain their lives, especially when they have been deprived of this way during 36 days of violent civic strike imposed in markets, workplaces, streets and avenues," said the APDHB in a statement.

The Permanent Assembly of Human Rights stated that the violent groups were sent expressly to prevent the retailers from selling their products and taking a place in the area.