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Bolivian riot police crack down on indigenous activists protesting against a government highway plan through their rainforest reserve.
Dozens of police wielding batons chased protesters and wrestled them to the ground in Yucomo, a small town, near La Paz.
Indigenous leaders say a 3-month old baby is dead and dozens of protesters missing following the crack down.
They issued a list of 37 people, including seven children, whose whereabouts are now unknown.
The government intervention was condemned by Bolivian ombudsman Rolanda Villena.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ROLANDO VILLENA, BOLIVIAN OMBUDSMAN, SAYING:
"I make a forceful and very firm call to cease the violence. We're currently in the rule of law and, after having made every effort to have a plurinational state, what occurred today with the use of excessive force puts our democracy at risk."
The protesters, including many women and children, have been marching for a month from their Amazon homeland to La Paz to protest the highway.
If built, the 420 million dollar road stretching 300kms and financed largely by Brazil, would pass through swathes of indigenous territory and national parks.
The Bolivian government declined to comment.
Sunita Rappai, Reuters
