Thousands of Bolivian Tin Miners Reported on Hunger Strike

Workers at most of Bolivia’s tin mines Wednesday joined an indefinite hunger strike to protest economic austerity measures and to press for the release of detained labor leaders, a labor union radio station said.

The station, run by the miners’ union, said that at one mine nearly 3,500 workers have joined the hunger strike, which they intend to continue “until the final consequences.”

Fifteen miners’ wives began a hunger strike eight days ago in a bid to strengthen a general strike called on Sept. 3 to protest government austerity measures, which included a 90% currency devaluation and a freeze on public-sector wages.