Reuters AlertNet Lite - Prostitutes sew lips together in Bolivia protest

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

Prostitutes sew lips together in Bolivia protest

24 Oct 2007 23:06:12 GMT
Source: Reuters

LA PAZ, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Prostitutes in the Bolivian city of El Alto sewed their lips together on Wednesday as part of a hunger strike to demand that the mayor reopen brothels and bars ordered closed after violent protests by residents last week.

"We are fighting for the right to work and for our families' survival," Lily Cortez, leader of the El Alto Association of Nighttime Workers, told local television.

"Tomorrow we will bury ourselves alive if we are not immediately heard. The mayor will have his conscience to answer to if there are any grave consequences, such as the death of my comrades," she said, surrounded by about 10 prostitutes who had sewn their lips together with thread.

Some 30 other women were shown fasting inside a medical clinic nearby.

Mayor Fanor Nava told local radio he would not reopen the brothels and bars closed after city residents fed up with underage drinking and crime stormed the red-light district in El Alto, an impoverished city just north of La Paz.

Prostitution in Bolivia is legal but pimping is outlawed.

Student activists who want the bars and brothels permanently shut down were also on a hunger strike, along with the leaders of an association representing bars, restaurants and karaoke establishments.

"It's not only us owners and the sex workers who are affected, there are thousands of waiters, cooks, bartenders, taxi drivers and street vendors who will be without income," said Ramiro Orellana, spokesman for the business group.

El Alto is one of the largest urban areas in Bolivia, with nearly 1 million inhabitants, mostly Aymara and Quechua Indians.

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Topics

• Food Security

MORE >>

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• Bolivia profile
· View map

MORE >>

NGO latest

• Concern's CEO welcomes new World Bank report on agriculture
Concern Worldwide - Ireland

• CRS Urges Congress to Adopt "Safebox" to Protect Food Aid for Long-Term Development
CRS - USA

• The UMCOR Hotline for October 16, 2007
UMCOR - USA

• 'BROKEN BREAD' BRINGS TASTE OF HUNGER TO U.S. SENATE, COLLEGES
WV - USA

• ADRA Food Project in Madagascar Welcomes U. S. Ambassador and USAID Representatives
ADRA - International

MORE >>

Latest news

• Prostitutes sew lips together in Bolivia protest

• Africa: Farmers need a financial umbrella says World Bank

• GLOBAL: Agencies "waste money on poor fleet management"

• European Commission and WFP sound alarm over humanitarian impact of climate change

• Indonesians abandon plantations near volcano

MORE >>

Last updated:Wed Oct 24 23:05:48 2007