Dynamite is a perennial object in Bolivian protest, used typically for loud noises and space-clearing. Despite its fearsome image, it's an ineffective antipersonnel weapon.
Bolivian police have handled thousands of protests that used dynamite in this way without shooting anyone.
Since 1982, twice as many people have been killed in Bolivian political conflict by tear gas (and its canisters) than by dynamite.
And most of the dynamite deaths were outside of the protesters vs policing scenario. (An explosive vest and an inter-union firefight among miners.)
Soldiers who deploy live ammunition as crowd control are courting a massacre and their commanders are fully responsible.
Since early 2004 (under Carlos Mesa), the Bolivian military has standing orders against this kind of rapid armed intervention and someone, likely the Añez-Murillo civilian team must have changed the rules to authorize this outrage.
