César Muñoz from HRW: "Bolivian justice system is not functioning"

 César Muñoz, Associate Director for Latin America at Human Rights Watch (HRW), expressed strong criticism of the Bolivian judicial system one day after the release of the annual report. The report stated that there was no evidence found against Luis Fernando Camacho for the crime of terrorism and that the accusation against Jeanine Áñez is "unfounded."

In an interview with the 'Influentials' program on EL DEBER Radio, Muñoz addressed various aspects of the human rights situation in Bolivia. He discussed the uncontrolled use of mercury in the Amazon, chronic gender violence, and overcrowding in prisons.

However, the main focus of the criticism was on the Bolivian judicial system. Muñoz stated, "I believe that all the people listening to this program will probably agree that the Bolivian justice system is not functioning. It has many problems, structural issues, and a profound reform guided by the principle of meritocracy is necessary."

The Associate Director of HRW emphasized that despite President Luis Arce's promises to reform the justice system to ensure political independence, those actions have not yet materialized.

Muñoz pointed out that the lack of job stability in the judicial system, where over 80% of prosecutors and half of the judges do not have permanent positions, is a detrimental factor. He stated, "This situation of job insecurity, transience, is very harmful to the judicial system because decisions are not ultimately based on the law."

In the context of the detention of the governor of Santa Cruz, Luis Fernando Camacho, and former president Jeanine Áñez, Muñoz questioned the political use of the terrorism charge in Bolivia, which he described as "contradictory to international standards."

"What we see is the continued use of the terrorism charge in a political way, and this happened in the government of Evo Morales, in the government of Jeanine Áñez, and is happening in the government of Luis Arce. The definition of terrorism in the Bolivian penal code is excessively broad and is being used in a way that is contradictory to international standards," he asserted.