Semblanza de Toribia Lero Quispe

Toribia Lero Quispe was born in the mining town of Huanuni, in the department of Oruro, in an environment marked by labor struggles, the defense of workers' rights, and the historical memory of Indigenous peoples. She grew up in a large family of eleven siblings, where she learned, from a very young age, the value of solidarity and collective effort. From an early age, she experienced the reality of mine workers and the social difficulties faced by working-class families. This experience strengthened in her a deep commitment to social justice and the defense of the most vulnerable sectors of society. Toribia Lero's parents came from Indigenous communities of the Tapacarí ayllu in the Andean region. Her grandparents passed on ancestral knowledge related to nature, agriculture, traditional medicine, and community organization. Her grandmother Dorotea had a particularly strong influence, teaching her the value of the ayllu as a space of identity, reciprocity, and territorial defense. From a very young age, she heard stories about Juan Lero, an Indigenous leader considered a symbol of resistance against colonial abuses. That cultural heritage later became one of the fundamental pillars of her political and social thought. The 1985 mining relocation radically transformed her family's life. The mining crisis forced thousands of workers to abandon Huanuni and seek new opportunities in other regions of the country. After her father's death, her mother assumed sole responsibility for the household and taught her children to work the land and survive in adverse conditions. The family migrated to Challapata and later engaged in commercial activities to support themselves. Toribia witnessed firsthand the poverty, sacrifice, and inequalities that affected displaced mining families. Despite these difficulties, she managed to complete her secondary education and later traveled to Sucre, where she studied Auditing. During her university years, she also faced discrimination and racism, situations that further strengthened her commitment to defending the dignity of Indigenous peoples and women. Her political and social trajectory began with Indigenous activism and the defense of collective rights. She participated in organizational processes linked to the ayllus of southern Oruro and, later, in the consolidation of the National Council of Ayllus and Markas of Qullasuyu (CONAMAQ). From these platforms, she promoted the vindication of Indigenous rights, the recognition of native cultures, and the construction of a Plurinational State. She also promoted a vision of complementarity between men and women based on the Andean principle of “chachawarmi,” understanding that both must jointly build family and community life. In the institutional political sphere, Toribia Lero was a national deputy for Comunidad Ciudadana and currently serves as a departmental assembly member for Cochabamba. Toribia Lero constantly reflects on the country's political and social situation. She believes that Bolivia is experiencing a profound crisis of values, marked by political confrontation, polarization, and the loss of democratic institutions. She criticizes both the persistent racism and the political use of ideological differences to divide the population. She also criticizes corruption, government improvisation, and the lack of effective policies to protect Indigenous peoples and the environment. For her, democracy is not limited to holding elections, but also implies respect for the law, peaceful coexistence, and recognition of the country's cultural diversity. She also warns of the risks of political intolerance and ideological manipulation, stating that Bolivia needs reconciliation, dialogue, and a more humane approach to politics. Finally, Toribia Lero maintains that Bolivia's future depends largely on new generations and their ability to build an inclusive and pluralistic country. From Cochabamba, she promotes an agenda focused on strengthening regional autonomy, modernizing production, improving access to water, enhancing road connectivity, and fostering balanced regional development. She believes the state must modernize without abandoning the cultural roots of Indigenous peoples. She also emphasizes the need to strengthen education, improve working conditions, and create real opportunities for young people and women. Her trajectory reflects the story of an indigenous woman who, from the mines of Huanuni and the Andean communities, managed to become a critical and proactive voice within contemporary Bolivian politics.