On Friday May 13th, activists from Bolivia Solidarity Campaign, War on Want, and WDM joined protestors around the world, in Paris, Rome, Geneva, Manila, Santiago, La Paz and Buenos Aires and Ghana, to campaign against Suez, the multinational water company.

The activists put on a spectacle outside the Houses of Parliament, before delivering a letter by hand to Lord Simon of Highbury, a director of Suez and former Labour government minister.

The campaigners called on Lord Simon to ensure that Suez does not sue the highly indebted Bolivian Government, for ‘lost future profits’ after the country cancelled Aguas del Illimani’s contract, of Which Suez is the largest

The contract with Suez was terminated as a result of the massive popular protests in El Alto in December 2004 and January 2005. This led Bolivia's President Carlos Mesa to cancel Suez's contracts to provide water to the city.

The failed privatisation had left 200,000 people without access to water (according to Bolivia's Minister of Public Services) whilst guaranteeing a 13% rate of return on the companies' investment. Countless others were unable to afford the US$435 connection fees that are almost 8 times Bolivia's monthly minimum wage.

To find out more visit: www.boliviasc.org.uk