Jorge Quispe / La Paz
The Vice Ministry of Consumer Protection sanctioned the Brasargent Rodizio & Churrasquería restaurant in Santa Cruz with Bs 23 thousand or 10 thousand UFV (Housing Development Units), where on Wednesday the artist Matamba said he was discriminated against. The Prosecutor’s Office opens proceedings against the owner.
The Minister of Justice, Iván Lima, confirmed the sanction of the deputy ministry. “The act of discrimination suffered by @matambamusic is inadmissible. In accordance with the CPE (Political Constitution of the State) and Law 045, a penalty of 10,000 UFVs (approximately Bs 23,800) was established for the owner of the restaurant. The artist can initiate criminal action,” he wrote.
The Vice Minister of Consumer Defense, Jorge Silva, asserted that the Santa Cruz establishment was established to apply the fine. “For having committed a serious infraction, which is having violated the right to dress and good treatment; It is not only the economic sanction, we are also going to adhere to the criminal complaint that this consumer made for the crime of discrimination, ”he said.
The value of the UFV yesterday, according to the Central Bank of Bolivia, was 2.38, so the fine that the restaurant must pay is a total of 23,800 bolivianos.
Juan Carlos Chiorono, an artist who plays reggae and known as Matamba, denounced on Wednesday through his social networks that he was discriminated against in said establishment. The artist reported that he entered the premises to celebrate the birthday of two of his brothers, but when he was already inside the establishment, one of the waiters approached him to tell him that he could not be “like this” in the place, referring to his clothing.
Matamba said that he asked the employee what he was referring to and the worker replied: “I can see your shoulders.” The artist was wearing a tank top from a US basketball team.
In the premises, there were also women with bare shoulders, despite this it was removed. Given this, Matamba made the complaint yesterday before the Prosecutor’s Office.
“In my heart it is not to seek to hurt people (…), but there are fewer places where people are not allowed free entry because of how they dress, because of the color of their skin or the way they look,” said the singer before to enter the Prosecutor’s Office.
Yesterday, the Minister of Government, Eduardo del Castillo, suggested to the Vice Minister of Decolonization and Depatriarchalization, Pelagio Condori, to take “hands on the matter.”
Silva said that they will adhere to the criminal complaint made by the singer before the Prosecutor’s Office.
