ACTING HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER THE SITUATION IN BOLIVIA

14 October 2003
The United Nations Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights, Bertrand Ramcharan, echoes the concerns of Secretary-General Kofi Annan over the continuing violence in Bolivia in which many persons have been killed during the recent days of protests in the country.

The Acting High Commissioner stresses that the Government of Bolivia has an obligation under international human rights law to protect all its citizens and to exercise restraint in the restoration of law and order. By the same token, protests need to be peaceful and respectful of the rights of citizens.