Mesa's government decided to take a strong line against protesters — especially the striking public teachers. The announcement came shortly after La Paz public teachers kidnapped the vice minister of Education, hospitalizing him. Teachers who didn't return to work today, are supposedly fired. (Let's see how that goes.)

Jose Galindo, the Presidency Minister, had strong words for the teachers:

"When you've lost the capacity to explain your ideas w/ words, you start to shout; when you can't explain yourself w/ shouts, then you start throwing stones, you start going backwards in human development."

Meanwhile, more highways out of La Paz are blockaded. Despite the government announcing it's intention to keep roads open. Roads to Lake Titicaca area are closed. People who live there told anthropologist acquaintances not to head back to their work sites; bloqueadores are pulling people out of vehicles attempting to run the blockades & beating them (same goes for people moving on foot).

The airport's still open. Good news for people flying in/out in the next few days.