LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Dozens of clowns marched by means of the streets of Bolivia’s capital on Monday to protest a authorities decree that limits extracurricular actions, threatening their livelihoods.
Wearing full face paint and their signature purple noses, the clowns gathered in entrance of the Ministry of Education in La Paz to oppose a decree printed in February. The new mandate says faculties should adjust to 200 days of classes annually — successfully banning faculties from internet hosting the particular occasions the place these entertainers are regularly employed.
“This decree will economically affect all of us who work with children,” mentioned Wilder Ramírez, a pacesetter of the native clown union, who additionally goes by the title of Zapallito. The clown advised journalists that “children need to laugh” whereas his colleagues questioned out loud if Bolivia’s Education Minister had ever had a childhood.
Clowns in Bolivia are sometimes employed for varsity festivities to entertain youngsters throughout breaks from their common classes. One such upcoming occasion is Children’s Day, which the nation celebrates on April 12.
The decree issued by the authorities of just lately elected President Rodrigo Paz says that celebrations will not be approved throughout common faculty days, although they are often held voluntarily on weekends. Government officers mentioned they are going to take the clowns’ critiques under consideration after they make a decree for the 2027 faculty yr.
But these assurances supplied little aid to the clowns protesting Monday.
“This decree will diminish our income, and with the economic crisis the country is going through, our future looks increasingly gloomy,” mentioned Elías Gutiérrez, a spokesperson for the Confederation of Artisanal Workers of Bolivia.
Bolivia is grappling with its worst economic crisis in decades as revenues from pure fuel plummet following a sustained decline in manufacturing, and U.S. dollars become scarce, making imports dearer in the landlocked nation.
Tailors who work with clowns and make attire for kids taking part in cultural occasions joined Monday’s protest in addition to photographers who sometimes work faculty celebrations.
The alliance of clowns, photographers and costume makers marched by means of the heart of La Paz, blowing their whistles and setting off small fireworks.
One of the clowns carried an indication that blamed the authorities for “taking away smiles, and taking work away.”
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