In January 2007 ceety dwallers clashed wi maistly rural protestors, leavin fower deid an ower 130 injured. The democratically-electit Prefect o Cochabamba, Manfred Reyes Villa, a umwhile militar aide tae the Luis García Meza Tejada dictatorship o the 1980s, haed alleed hissel wi the leaders o Bolivie's Eastren Depairtments in a dispute wi Preses Evo Morales ower regional autonomy an ither poleetical issues. The protestors blockadit the heich-gates, brigs, an main roads, haein days earlier set fire tae the depairtmental seat o govrenment, tryin tae force the resignation o Reyes Villa. Citizens attackit the protestors, breakin the blockade an routin them, while the polis did little tae stop the violence. Further attempts bi the protestors tae reinstate the blockade an threaten the govrenment wur unsuccessful, but the unnerlyin tensions hae no been resolvit.