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Angry prostitutes sew lips
26/10/2007 07:26 - (SA)
La Paz - Three prostitutes in the Bolivian city of El Alto have sewn their lips together as part of a protest that also has included hunger strikes because of the closing of all brothels in the city.
Last week, violent protests led to the plundering and arson of the city's brothels.
Under pressure from residents, city authorities decided to close all brothels where women receive clients in exchange for about $2.50.
City authorities closed about 20 brothels and 30 bars after angry residents demonstrated for weeks against the brothels on so-called "Sin Street" in El Alto's red light district.
Protestors said the businesses had a bad influence on young men and attracted crime.
The city's prostitutes started a hunger strike on Monday at a health centre in protest, and three of the women had their lips sewn shut under partial anaesthesia at the clinic on Wednesday.
The women also drew blood from their bodies to write protest slogans.
On Thursday, three women planned to be buried in caskets in grounds belonging to the municipality of El Alto.
Lily Cortez, the leader of about 500 affected prostitutes in El Alto said: "People have to understand that we need to work.
"Police repressed us on Tuesday night because our colleagues were looking for clients on the street. Prostitution is not forbidden in Bolivia."
"I am a whore because I want my children to be able to study," the daily La Razon quoted a woman named Tania as saying.
Prostitutes accused demonstrators of hypocrisy, since most of their clients were family men. - Sapa-dpa
- SAPA
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