Clashes between police and protestors have broken out in Cochabamba, Bolivia, a region considered a stronghold of support for former President Evo Morales. The confrontations occurred amid a state of emergency declared by President Rodrigo Paz. The emergency decree was implemented in an effort to quell ongoing protests and dismantle roadblocks established across the country. Details regarding the specific instigators and aims of the blockades remain unclear, though they are understood to be linked to broader political and economic grievances. Reports indicate campesinos, or rural farmers, are among those involved in the clashes with law enforcement. The situation remains volatile as authorities attempt to restore order and negotiate with protest groups. The state of emergency grants increased powers to the police and military.