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| In pictures: Indigenous Bolivians demand action over fires | In pictures: Indigenous Bolivians demand action over fires |
| (7 days later) | |
| About 200 Bolivians, most of them members of an indigenous group from the Chiquitanía region, are taking part in a protest march to demand more action be taken to stop fires that have ravaged their area. | About 200 Bolivians, most of them members of an indigenous group from the Chiquitanía region, are taking part in a protest march to demand more action be taken to stop fires that have ravaged their area. |
| They are urging President Evo Morales to declare a national emergency, after blazes destroyed large areas of forest as well as ranch land and farms, leaving many people destitute. | They are urging President Evo Morales to declare a national emergency, after blazes destroyed large areas of forest as well as ranch land and farms, leaving many people destitute. |
| President Evo Morales has welcomed international aid but has stopped short of declaring a national emergency. | President Evo Morales has welcomed international aid but has stopped short of declaring a national emergency. |
| Earlier this month, a Russian military plane capable of dropping large amounts of water on the fires, arrived in Bolivia and firefighters from Argentina have also been helping with the firefighting efforts. | Earlier this month, a Russian military plane capable of dropping large amounts of water on the fires, arrived in Bolivia and firefighters from Argentina have also been helping with the firefighting efforts. |
| The worst-affected area is Chiquitanía, where the NGO Friends of Nature Foundation (FAN) estimates that 2.9 million hectares have been burned. | The worst-affected area is Chiquitanía, where the NGO Friends of Nature Foundation (FAN) estimates that 2.9 million hectares have been burned. |
| Most of those taking part in the protest march are members of the Chiquitanos indigenous group. | |
| They set off from San Ignacio de Velasco, a ranching hub, earlier this month and have been sleeping in makeshift camps along the way. | They set off from San Ignacio de Velasco, a ranching hub, earlier this month and have been sleeping in makeshift camps along the way. |
| The protesters say that if a national emergency was declared more aid would reach their areas. | The protesters say that if a national emergency was declared more aid would reach their areas. |
| "For us, the Chiquitanos, it's painful because we are not going to have anything left," protester Tomás Candia told Reuters news agency. | "For us, the Chiquitanos, it's painful because we are not going to have anything left," protester Tomás Candia told Reuters news agency. |
| "That is why we are calling on the world (for help), for the government to declare a national disaster, to call for help for indigenous peoples, for territories and for protected areas," he said. | "That is why we are calling on the world (for help), for the government to declare a national disaster, to call for help for indigenous peoples, for territories and for protected areas," he said. |
| President Morales has come under criticism for passing a decree in July allowing farmers to carry out "controlled burning" to clear land for planting in the affected areas. | President Morales has come under criticism for passing a decree in July allowing farmers to carry out "controlled burning" to clear land for planting in the affected areas. |
| The president, who is running for a fourth consecutive term in elections next month, has historically enjoyed the support of large parts of Bolivia's indigenous population but the recent fires have undermined some of that support. | The president, who is running for a fourth consecutive term in elections next month, has historically enjoyed the support of large parts of Bolivia's indigenous population but the recent fires have undermined some of that support. |
| All photos subject to copyright. | All photos subject to copyright. |