World News for Students of English

04-05-2016 07:00

“It’s your fault my son will die. You are murderers!” she shouts.

A protest by disabled Bolivians got heated yesterday with police using pepper spray and tear gas on them, causing many to collapse. 150 activists had made a 230-mile trek to La Paz with the aim of protesting in front of the presidential palace, but they were stopped by police with the group then trying to break through a gate.

They’re demanding an increase in their benefits, they currently receive just under 100 pounds a year but they want to receive around 50 pounds a month instead. And they’ve taken to extreme measures to raise awareness of their plight, suspending themselves from bridges and even bricking themselves into tiny enclosures.

Ana Belan begged the government for a solution, saying they have children who are with them. She asked them to use their hearts unless they preferred to see blood.

But the government say extra help is not possible, saying a monthly bonus of 50 pounds is unfeasible, unsustainable, and not rational.

Despite the extreme measures taken by police to stop the protest, the government do say they are willing to enter talks with the protesters.

Difficult words: plight (a difficult situation), suspend (to hang), tiny (very small), enclosure (a space), unfeasible (not feasible – doable).

Source: www.ondemandnews.com