Bolivian president cancels highway project crossing indigenous territory

Bolivian President Evo Morales on Friday canceled a highway project cutting through an indigenous territory in the Amazonian region, after two months of protests forced the government to backtrack. Morales vetoed an indigenous territory law and ordered Congress to guarantee there would be no highway crossing through the Isiboro Secure National Park and Indigenous Territory (TIPNIS). Morales said he made the decision by "obeying the people" once again. Indigenous people, who began their protests on Aug. 15, are expected to respond to the cancellation soon. In September, clashes erupted after police forcefully removed the protesters from the streets, which led to the resignation of ministers of defense and the interior.