Senkata is a district in El Alto, and is the second most populated city in Bolivia according to the census in 2012. It is located in the south side of the city called District 8. It's known locally and internationally for the social protests that took place during 2003 and 2019 in the events known as the October massacre, during the Bolivian gas conflict, and the 88/5000 and the terrorist attack in Senkata promoted by militants of the Movement for Socialism, during the post electoral protests in Bolivia in 2019. During both events, there were civilian deaths after the State ordered police and military intervention, which was later backed with a decree from the legislative power. In 2003, the intervention was supported by the Supreme Decree 27209 and in the case of the 2019 riots which were supported by the Supreme Decree 4078 on the 14th of November 2019, that gave an exemption of penal responsibilities to the Armed Forces of Bolivia. The 4078 decree was repealed on the 28th of November 2019 after an agreement with social organisations.
Location
Senkata is located in the lateral areas of Avenida 6 de marzo in the city of El Alto. This avenue is part of the :es:Ruta 1 |Ruta nacional 1 - the Bolivian highway network that connects the La Paz Departamento with the departments of Oruro, Chuquisaca, Potosí and Tarija.
Characteristics
The District of Senkata is in the vicinity of the La Paz - Oruro highway. It houses the Senkata Plant, where Yacimientos Petrolíferos de Bolivia has its liquid gas and gasoline installations providing these to the neighbouring city of La Paz, and it also houses the headquarters of the executive power of Bolivia.
History
Much like the other districts in El Alto, the population that lived there initially were immigrants of other regions in Bolivia, mainly miners that lived through the relocation in Bolivia during the 80s, which caused the loss of jobs for miner workers and triggered their migration to other cities. This migration period represents one of the 4 milestones that marked the urban development of El Alto, a city with 90% of inhabitants that speak Aymara.
