Over 4,000 thousand young people gathered at the ancient Inca ruins at Tiwanacu in Bolivia on Wednesday (12 June) to take part int he first National Youth Festival. The rally was addressed by Bolivian President Hugo Banzer.

The participants, mostly students from schools and colleges in la Paz, travelled by train to Guaqui, and then marched the remaining six mile (10 kilometres) to Tiwanacu.

The three-day gathering, which began on Wednesday (12 June) was opened by Bolivia's President Hugo Banzer. He told the gathering that he had a great understanding of the problems of youth, gained from his experiences as a military instructor and as Minister of Education. "Today as President of the Republic" he continued, "I see you as the greatness of or nation, which continues to be my prime interest."
The ruins of Tiwanacu, known as the Temple of Calasasya, date back to the Inca civilisation of 500 A.D. For the duration of the festival they were decorated with the handicraft of the local indians.

Just two weeks prior to the rally President Banzer faced a major political crisis. He assumed Supreme Command of the armed Forces after General Joaquin ???enteng Anaya had been forced to rasing for criticising the ruling coalition grouping.