(UPDATED — 9:39 p.m. EST) Tens of thousands of citizens gathered in Santa Cruz for the massive civic mobilization "Gran Marcha por la Democracia". Led by the Comité Pro Santa Cruz, civic leader Stello Cochaminidos issued a formal ultimatum to President Paz: restore order and clear the ongoing blockades by this Sunday, or citizens will take matters into their own hands. The Asamblea de la Cruceñidad has declared a permanent state of emergency as the weekend deadline looms.
This is the second in a series of reports on Bolivia's ongoing political and economic crisis. Read Part One here.