Bolivian deputy interior minister killed by miners

Clashes between police and striking miners.
(Image credit: Aizar Raldes/AFP/Getty Images)

The Bolivian government confirmed that the country's deputy interior minister, Rodolfo Illanes, was beaten to death after being abducted by striking miners.

Before the government announced the death of Illanes, a radio station director told local media outlets he saw the body. Earlier Thursday, the government said Illanes, 56, had been abducted and was at risk of being tortured in Panduro, 100 miles from La Paz, Reuters reports. The striking miners are asking for changes to laws, including the right to work for private companies and better union representation, and the protests turned violent on Wednesday when a highway was blocked and two workers were shot and killed. The government says 17 police officers were wounded during the clash. (The article has been updated.)

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.