"Bolivians end foreign-owned water privatization in Cochabamba ‘Water War’,\n\
Summary
In 2000, a broad coalition of Bolivians in Cochabamba known as La Coordinadora mobilized against the privatization of the municipal water system by the foreign-led consortium Aguas de Tunari. Through sustained protests, road blockades, and civic actions, they forced the government to cancel the contract, reverse water rate hikes, and modify the water law. The campaign succeeded in returning water to public control and protecting community water systems. [source: nv-database]
Tactics used
Tactics used
- unknown
Background
Throughout the 1990s, Bolivia faced pressure from the World Bank to privatize public goods. In September 1999, the government auctioned Cochabamba’s municipal water system to Aguas del Tunari, a consortium dominated by Bechtel Corporation, and rushed through Law 2029 to legalize the privatization. The law allowed the company to take over community water systems and impose steep rate hikes, sparking widespread opposition. [source: nv-database]
What happened
Bolivians end foreign-owned water privatization in Cochabamba ‘Water War’,\n\ — No machine-readable author provided. Alfredovasquezm~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims). (CC BY-SA 2.5). Source: bolivians-end-foreign-owned-water-privatization-cochabamba-water-war-2000.jpg
In early November 1999, irrigation farmers brought word of Law 2029 to the Fabriles union office, leading to the formation of La Coordinadora under Óscar Olivera [source: nv-database]. In December, La Coordinadora gave the government a deadline of January 11, 2000, to end the contract and reverse rate hikes [source: nv-database]. On January 11, protesters set up roadblocks, and on January 12, MANACO factory workers held a solidarity strike [source: nv-database]. On January 13, police gassed a crowd waiting for government officials, but the government signed an agreement to consider revising the contract [source: nv-database]. When the government refused to reconsider rate hikes, many refused to pay and symbolically burned bills [source: nv-database]. On February 4, La Coordinadora staged ‘la toma de Cochabamba,’ a nonviolent demonstration that turned into a citywide blockade [source: nv-database]. Soldiers and police used tear gas and clubs, injuring 175 and blinding two [source: nv-database]. On February 6, the government agreed to freeze rate hikes [source: nv-database]. On March 22, an unofficial referendum showed 95% demanded termination of the contract [source: nv-database]. On April 3, protesters occupied the main plaza and set up blockades [source: nv-database]. On April 6, Olivera and other leaders were arrested but released after four hours [source: nv-database]. President Banzer declared martial law on April 8; police used live ammunition, killing 17-year-old Victor Hugo Daza [source: nv-database]. By April 9, violence left six dead, but 100,000 people mobilized, and Aguas de Tunari fled [source: nv-database]. On April 10, Olivera signed an accord canceling the contract, returning water to public control, and modifying Law 2029 to protect community systems [source: nv-database].
Key people & organizations
- Óscar Olivera
- Coordinator for the Defense of Water and Life (La Coordinadora)
- Aguas de Tunari
- Bechtel Corporation
- Fabriles (Cochabamba Federation of Factory Workers)
- Jim Shultz
- Tito Solari
- President Hugo Banzer
- Victor Hugo Daza
Outcome
Verdict: won.
The campaign achieved all three goals: the government ended the privatization contract, reversed rate hikes, and modified Law 2029 to recognize traditional communal water practices. Although the campaign saw some violence, the nonviolent core of mass civil resistance and coalition-building forced the government to concede. [source: nv-database]
Lessons
- Building a broad coalition that includes peasants, workers, professionals, and urban residents can sustain a movement across class lines.
- Using symbolic actions like burning bills and unofficial referendums can galvanize public support and delegitimize the opponent.
- Maintaining disciplined nonviolent tactics while allowing for mass participation can create a dilemma for authorities and attract wider solidarity.
Sources
- Global Nonviolent Action Database —
[[nv-database]]
Disclaimer: Included as a teaching example of campaign craft, not as endorsement.
Sources & verification
nv-database— grounding: primary — license: link-only- Rewritten: 2026-07-04 via
worker_casestudies_v2.py