(18 Apr 1998) Spanish/Nat
A military operation to eradicate coca crops in the region of Chapare in Bolivia has left locals in shock.
Fighting broke out between local villagers who were protecting their coca crops and police who were setting them alight - at least one person was killed and six others hurt.
The region of Chapare is a military zone and normally closed to the media, but journalists were given access to film the eradication.
In ever continuing efforts to stamp out the growth and export of drugs, the Bolivian government has undertaken a policy to eradicate all coca plantations.
On Thursday, soldiers from various regiments in the region of Chapare gathered en masse to destroy local coca plantations.
This video shows the troops in action.
Farmers who turned up to tend their crops and harvest the leafs tried to defend their crops with machetes - the police in turn defended themselves with tear gas and bullets.
Four policemen sustained machete wounds, two coca growers were shot and injured and one man was killed - Agustin Gutierrez was shot three times in the head.
The army's actions have left villagers in shock,
The locals complain of the constant abuse by military troops and believe that this time the soldiers have gone too far.
The Bolivian Minister of Defence said that the soldiers in Chapare were only there to give support to farmers who were growing legitimate crops.
He made no comment about this week's violence.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"The armed forces are giving security and logistical support to those who are attempting to put forward the cultivation of alternative crops. and who if necessary will be involved in some crop eradication"
SUPER CAPTION: Hernando Kieffer, Minister of Defense
It's not the first time the government enforced its policy of crop eradication.
But in the past, it compensated farmers for crops voluntarily burned.
The government then offered to pay only a part of the value of the crop burnt - but coca farmers refused to negotiate.
The government then decided to pay no compensation at all and to undertake a policy whereby any plant seen either by the military or the police could be eradicated.
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