LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) – Striking miners in Bolivia kidnapped and beat to death the country’s deputy interior minister after he traveled to the area to mediate in the bitter conflict over mining laws, officials said.
Government Minister Carlos Romero called it a “cowardly and brutal killing” and asked that the body of his deputy, Rodolfo Illanes, be turned over to authorities.
Illanes, whose formal title is vice minister of the interior regime, was “savagely beaten” to death by the striking miners, Defense Minister Reymi Ferreira told Red Uno television, his voice breaking.
Earlier, Romero had said that Illanes had been kidnapped and possibly tortured, but wasn’t able to confirm reports that he had been killed by the striking informal miners, who are demanding the right to associate with private companies, among other issues.
The fatal beating follows the killings of two protesters in clashes with police, deaths that likely escalated tensions in the strike.