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# Two shiny Bolivian coins
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/19151/
- Published: 2006-01-19T16:01:54.000Z
- Updated: 2026-04-17T10:00:00.000Z
- Author: openDemocracy Supporters
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:15, #ImagesUploaded

I am reliably informed by [The Democracy centre](http://democracyctr.org/bechtel/bechtel-vs-bolivia.htm?ref=opendemocracy.net), that this is all Bechtel will be going home with in their case against Cochabamba’s citizens. This is a huge strike for people power following the dispute which has raged for six years. There is little more obscene than a war over water, something each one of us cannot live without for more than a couple of days.

"In January 2000, just months after it took over control of the water system of Bolivia’s third largest city, Cochabamba, a Bechtel Corporation subsidiary hit water users with enormous price increases. These increases forced some of the poorest families in South America to literally choose between food or water."

[more here](http://democracyctr.org/bechtel/?ref=opendemocracy.net)

![See more photos By Tom Kruse](https://www.opendemocracy.net/content/files/2026/04/Multitud20en20la20plaza20principal_Adol3DX-1776419072105.jpg)

See more photos By Tom Kruse