The 'Evista' March Passes Vila Vila Amid Clashes

 Pro- and anti-Evo Morales factions clashed on the La Paz-Oruro highway, in the Vila Vila region. Despite this, the marchers managed to break through the resistance organized at the site.

In Vila Vila, groups who identified themselves as "self-convened" gathered, but the "Evistas" claimed that they were shock groups from the "Arcista" faction attempting to block the march, which had set out from Caracollo.

During the confrontation between the two sides, there were stone-throwing, fireworks detonations, and allegedly dynamite.

There were also fistfights. It was observed that the "Evistas" managed to capture some members of the opposing side and assaulted them. Injuries have been reported.

The Arcistas accused the Evistas of attempting to carry out a coup.

The march with Morales managed to get through that point amidst the tension. "They wanted to shoot him, but they couldn’t kill him; we passed," stated a leader close to the former president.

The march continues on its way toward the seat of government, where it is expected to arrive next week.

Assaults

From the Facebook account of "Evista" senator Luis Adolfo Flores, an attack on his convoy, which also included his colleague Guido Varela, was reported.

"The attackers intercepted the vehicle, forcefully broke the windows, and opened the doors; upon realizing who the occupants were, they violently attacked them," the account stated.

Evo Morales confesses that before they paid him first-class tickets and now they send him private planes.

Evo returned from Venezuela and didn't hold back. First, he described it as a racist act to criticize him for traveling on private flights, like his colleague Loza going to see a Real Madrid match, and then he attacked a minister.

Former president Evo Morales described it as an act of racism to question him for traveling on private planes, and admitted that he receives invitations from left-wing governments that used to send him in business class alongside "old men and women full of rings" and now they put him on fully paid private planes, "to safeguard his security."

"I deeply regret those questions about why Evo travels on a private plane. I want the Bolivian population to know that my first invitation to Europe was in 1989, all expenses paid. Then I had many others, as a leader I traveled to four continents, all expenses paid. Once the Government of Portugal invited me to a three-day conference and in the end the organizing team gave me 600 dollars as an allowance. I was scared, I didn't want to receive it. I got scared. They insisted. I brought that money and accounted for it to the special federation of workers of the Tropic of Cochabamba," said Evo Morales this Sunday.

He admitted that for subsequent invitations "they sent business class tickets, there only old men and women full of rings and jewelry traveled. As time goes by, now the former president receives invitations and they send him private planes. I ask Venezuela, Argentina, Mexico, Paraguay, Brazil or Peru, how much do they pay? And they respond to me that they send a plane for security reasons."

Therefore, he clarified that these comments against him have a "racist" tint. "Leonardo Loza (MAS Senator and coca grower like him) goes to see a match in Europe and a scandal is created. Racism, racism, racism. They pay me private planes, and another scandal."

As retaliation, the former president sent a message and asked the Minister of Public Works, Édgar Montaño, former deputy: "If he is honest, let him say it. Two years ago, at around 6:00 in the morning in the La Coronilla area, he only arrived in his car, his former driver whom they fired, let him publicly say how much money he received. If he is honest, he knows. That driver will speak out, anytime he will tell the truth. Hopefully they don't repress him, the minister knows what we are talking about."

He demanded Minister Montaño to execute the guarantee bonds for the execution of sections in the Tropic of Cochabamba, and he went on: "because that has a cost. He said that we need to investigate, let's investigate, but thoroughly."

He then insisted that he feels like a victim of a racist act. "How can an indigenous person travel on a private plane, how can an indigenous person go to see a match in Europe. Pure racism. I have two trips, one to Brazil and one to Paraguay, and for both they will send private planes," he asserted. "Once they refused to sell jet fuel to a plane, dogs everywhere, you can't imagine the telephone argument I had."

He also complained about entering with his passport, "On Saturday I got angry, and mind you, I have a diplomatic document, but still I told them to check, they got scared. I realized that a guy was taking a picture of me, I also took one of him. I commented on this at a meeting outside the country and former Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa told me that they shouldn't control me because I am a former president. They don't understand what's going on in Bolivia."

Regarding the meeting in Caracas, Morales recounted that "there were (representatives from) more than 60 countries, people convinced in this anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist struggle. Commander Nicolás Maduro, following in the footsteps of Hugo Chávez and consolidating the revolution in Venezuela. He reported that we must continue resisting, between last year and this year there were five assassination attempts, interventionism by the US, I was impressed."

Evo accuses that among the weaponry delivered by Del Castillo for the fight against drug trafficking there were telescopic sights and suppressors.

 Former President Evo Morales, during his program on Radio Kawsachun Coca, once again lashed out against the Minister of Government, Eduardo Del Castillo, referring to the recent delivery of equipment for the fight against drug trafficking that he provided to the Felcn in Cochabamba. He claimed that members of the national police, as well as the Armed Forces, revealed to him that among the weaponry there were telescopic sights and suppressors.

"That's for killing. When they shoot, it won't be heard because of the suppressors. On the other hand, the police tell us that we don't need weaponry, what we need are vehicles, patrols (...) So, that raises a lot of suspicion," he accused bluntly.

And the accusations continued: "I don't know if the minister is really sick, because a healthy, honest, responsible person for the nation speaks the truth. Bolivia is a transit point for cocaine, there are airstrips on the border with Peru. The people of Beni know this, the government knows this. Who controls the airstrips in the department of Beni?" he asked.

Hoping not to be mistaken, he stated that never, in the 14 years he was in government, had there been news of so many tons of cocaine from Bolivia, bound for Europe. "But now so many (tons) appear, I repeat once again, that there is no control at the border with Peru. Planes come in, go out, some crash, nobody reports," he accused.

Finally, he complained about the stigmatization, because now in matters of drug trafficking everything is against the Tropics, "as in neoliberal times, we only lack the return of the United States military base." Finally, for the former president and coca leader, the DEA continues to operate in our country. "USAID has officially returned with Áñez (former President Jeanine Áñez), and now with Lucho, USAID continues. That's also a way of how the government of Luis Arce has shifted to the right," he fired.

Background

Last Thursday, the Minister of Government delivered a fleet of aircraft and equipment to the Special Force for the Fight Against Drug Trafficking (Felcn) in the municipality of Chimoré, with the aim of strengthening the anti-drug fight in the Cochabamba Tropics region.

However, the equipment delivery was harshly criticized by Senator Leonardo Loza from the 'Evoist' wing of the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) and coca grower from the Cochabamba Tropics region, who considered it a "provocation" to the region, a stronghold of former President Evo Morales.

"Some comrades were telling us that this seems like a provocation to the region," Loza said, as quoted by Los Tiempos newspaper.

The senator assured that the Felcn personnel themselves informed him that they do not need weapons, but rather their greatest need is to have air and land transportation means.

Disqualified Applicants Resist and Prepare for Mass Appeals

 A total of 715 professionals submitted their documents over the course of 20 days during the candidate registration phase for judges of the Judicial Branch and its four bodies. On Friday, the review of requirements concluded, and the balance of approved and disqualified candidates is at its limit, with 47% qualified and 53% disqualified. The majority of professionals who were excluded are preparing for appeals, which will begin this Monday.

"I was reviewing the list of disqualified candidates, and unfortunately, those listed as qualified are judges and candidates from La Paz. It seems that more importance is given to males; I would even say there is a regional criterion because when looking at the list, there are more disqualifications in the eastern region and not so much in the west," stated Vivian Torrez Saavedra, one of the four female professionals who applied for the Plurinational Constitutional Court (PCC) from Santa Cruz, all of whom were disqualified.

The application process began on February 20, with the last day for submissions being March 10. The following day, the review of the files commenced, concluding on Friday. Now, the phase of appeals begins.

According to the data from the Citizen Oversight, Santa Cruz submitted 17 applicants, of which only two qualified; Beni submitted 12, and two qualified; Pando had 10 professionals apply, with four qualifying, all of them males. Conversely, 36 professionals applied from La Paz, mostly judges, and 8 women and 19 men were qualified, making it the region with the most representation.

Requirement

"To have a minimum of eight (8) years of experience in performing functions in public or private institutions, or in the freelance practice of the profession, related to Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, or Human Rights," states the specific fourth requirement, which was the main barrier for 44% of the candidates for the PCC.

Juan José Subieta Claros is another professional who was disqualified for not meeting this requirement. However, he remains undeterred, stating that he has not only 8 years but 19 years of experience in constitutional law. Like him, other professionals aiming for the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (STJ), the Agro-environmental Tribunal, or the Council of Magistrates will also fight to remain in the pre-selection process.

"They might tell me that I lack experience in corporate law, which I accept, but they cannot tell me that I lack experience in the constitutional area; that would be dishonest, and if they ultimately deny it to me, so be it. One has a clear conscience," said Subieta.

Freddy Durán Montero, a lawyer who applied for the PCC from Santa Cruz, had his application erroneously listed for the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (STJ), which was clarified during the session. However, he was also disqualified for failing to meet the fourth specific requirement. He stated that he has the weekend to decide whether he will appeal his disqualification.

Timelines

Disqualifications are a part of the process that determines the permanence or removal of a candidate because starting Monday, the period for disqualified candidates to appeal and potentially be reinstated begins. At the same time, a period for public or assembly-driven appeals against candidates they believe should not be in the process also begins.

"Any individual or collective person, including Assembly Members of the Chamber of Deputies and Senators, may challenge the applicants, with grounds and attaching suitable evidence, within the established period, which must be notified to the challenged applicant by electronic means (email or WhatsApp)," states article 29 of Law 1549, which regulates these judicial elections.

Candidates have five days to appeal their disqualification, and the respective commission has five days to resolve the observation from the receipt of the appeal. Simultaneously, the public can submit appeals against any of the 351 qualified candidates, whose names will be published on Saturday and Sunday. Those who are appealed against can also request a review of the appeal and present counterarguments, initiating another five-day period to resolve the case. Thus, a total of 20 calendar days will be consumed, leading up to April 7 when the evaluation period will begin.

The Figures

"I understand that my colleague and I are the ones who have met the requirements established by law, the minimum and specific requirements, which is why we are surely at this stage," said Douglas Sahagun Daza, one of the two candidates from Santa Cruz qualified for the PCC.

The PCC and the STJ have departmental representation, so professionals must register for the region they belong to. There are 18 magistrates for each body, 9 titular and 9 alternate. The Law stipulates that the Assembly must send a minimum of 36 candidates for each body, i.e., 72 candidates for the PCC and STJ.

Until 2017, female and indigenous-origin professionals' participation was always an issue. That year, the MAS modified the Law and established that if a region has a participation deficit, it can be supplemented with professionals from other regions.

"Exceptionally, in the absence of an indigenous-origin peasant representative, or if gender equity is not achieved, the candidate with the next best qualification, who is indigenous-origin peasant or a woman, as appropriate, will be enabled from the total number of candidates at the national level," states article 37 of Law 1549.

It was for this reason that parliamentarians did not even debate the possibility of expanding the registration of applications. Assembly Members hope that during this appeal period, the number of female and indigenous peasant participants will increase.

The Self-Extended

The current magistrates who self-extended their terms in office did not hesitate to reapply as candidates. Seven men and six women who are part of or have been part of the STJ, PCC, Agro-environmental Tribunal, or Council of Magistrates are running for other positions.

"From an ethical point of view, why would the application be contradictory? Because I have complied with everything, I have not been irresponsible or incapable; we are presenting ourselves in compliance with the law, the Law allows us to," said Olvis Eguez Oliva, a self-extended STJ member who was disqualified. He had applied to be a magistrate for the PCC but did not have the 8 years of experience in constitutional law required by the fourth specific requirement.

Edwin Aguayo Arando, Ponciano Ruiz Quispe, or Ángela Sánchez Panozo also faced the same fate; they were disqualified.

The 13 things you should know about Census Day for Population and Housing

 Six days before the Population and Housing Census, the National Institute of Statistics (INE) has all logistics, personnel, and materials ready to carry out this activity in Bolivia after 12 years.

The census is a statistical procedure that allows for the collection, compilation, evaluation, analysis, publication, and dissemination of characteristics of households and demographic, economic, and social data related to all inhabitants of Bolivia.

On census day, circulation and all economic and commercial activities are prohibited; only census takers and individuals authorized by the INE will be allowed to move.

The information obtained in the census will be used in the planning of public policies and by the Electoral Body for the redistribution of seats and redesign of electoral districts.

The 13 things to know about census day are as follows:

    Organization

INE has over 820,000 volunteer census takers nationwide, along with 4,813 zone chiefs, 268 block chiefs, 1,799 dispersed area chiefs, and 381 census work unit chiefs.

Zone chiefs will open the 6,612 operation centers across the country at 6:00. Half an hour later, they will organize the distribution of census boxes, which will be delivered to sector supervisors until 7:00. INE distributed 90,051 census boxes in the nine departments with bags containing a board, segment map, C-1 and C-2 forms, census questionnaires, a pencil case with pencil, eraser, and sharpener, the census taker's credential, and stickers with the legend "Censused Residence."

    Census Takers

Census takers are prohibited from entering homes; the interview will take place at the door of the residence or apartment, in the case of condominiums.

Census takers will carry credentials with a QR code to confirm that they are enumerators.

Each urban census taker will enumerate 10 households, and in rural or dispersed areas, 30 to 35 dwellings, but within a three-day period.

Volunteers will visit over 5.8 million households nationwide.

Once the interview in each residence is completed, the census agent will place the "Censused Residence" sticker on the door.

    Good Governance Order

Departamental autonomous governments issued respective good governance orders; most prohibit circulation from 00:00 to 23:50 on Saturday and the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages from 00:00 on Friday until 23:59 on Saturday, along with other prohibitions such as carrying weapons or dangerous objects.

    Schedule

Citizens should expect census takers from 8:00 in the morning until 19:30 and must provide accurate information for proper form completion.

    Those Enumerated

All members of the family should be present during form completion, including household dependents.

Only individuals with a special permit issued by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) will be allowed to circulate.

Once enumerated, individuals cannot leave their homes until 23:59 on the same day.

Additionally, they must keep their pets indoors to avoid incidents with volunteer census takers.

    Census Form

The census form includes 59 questions to be answered by the head of the household.

The average completion time for the questionnaire is 40 minutes.

The form must be completed in pencil because during the interview, the volunteer may make an error or the respondent may give an incorrect answer, and the error can be corrected.

The census form for the National Population and Housing Census of March 23, 2024, contains seven chapters and 59 questions, 10 more than in the 2012 process. The seven chapters relate to housing location, housing type, housing characteristics, migration, mortality, person listing, and characteristics of each person.

    Restrictions

On March 23, the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages will be prohibited.

From 00:00 on Saturday, March 23, the movement of people and vehicles without the respective authorization will be prohibited.

Interdepartmental travel will be limited one day before the census. The police and terminal administrators must enforce this provision, considering that from 00:00 on March 23, no one can be on the streets or engaged in any activity.

On March 23, Census Day 2024, international borders will be closed, and there will be no land, rail, lake, river, or air transport services.

Bus terminals will suspend departures on Friday, March 22, according to the travel time to their destinations, which must be before midnight.

Only international flights will be operated at airports.

    Sanctions

The National Institute of Statistics and the Police coordinated that among the penalties applied to individuals who violate the good governance order is an eight-hour arrest.

Both police officers and the Armed Forces will be responsible for enforcing the provisions on census day.

Police officers will be on duty and enumerated one day before so that on census day, March 23, they can carry out control and security operations.

    Application

The National Institute of Statistics will provide an application for census takers and supervisors. It is an emergency button to report dangerous situations or risks during census day.

    Media

Between four and five press conferences will be held during census day to show the progress of the process. Journalists must have INE accreditation and respective permits for circulation.

    Collective Residences

Hospitals, military units, etc., will be considered collective residences for form completion. In red zones, census takers will have police accompaniment.

    Absentees

People who are traveling will be enumerated wherever they are.

    School

School classes will be suspended on Friday, March 22, in urban areas and only on Monday, March 25, in rural areas.

Evo Strikes Again: Calls on Del Castillo to Lift Bank Secrecy and Labels Torrico as 'Adenista

 Former president and leader of the MAS, Evo Morales, suggested that it would be important for the Minister of Government, Eduardo del Castillo, to lift his bank secrecy to clarify the origin of the funds that allegedly allowed him to purchase a house in Argentina. This accusation is part of a new episode of Morales's constant attacks on President Luis Arce's collaborators.

The criticism arose following the report presented by Minister Del Castillo last week regarding an operation in Villa Tunari, where police forces discovered pools of tambaqui fish breeding amidst facilities dedicated to cocaine manufacturing.

Morales claimed that the government's insinuations align with those of the "right." "It would be important for Del Castillo to lift his bank secrecy. Sooner or later, his white sticks will tell the truth about where Eduardo del Castillo's family owns a house in Argentina," he commented on his Sunday program.

Accusing Torrico

Adding to his list of political adversaries, Morales included the Deputy Minister of Government Coordination, Gustavo Torrico, whom he accused of having been affiliated with the Nationalist Democratic Action (ADN) of the late president Hugo Banzer Suárez. Torrico was one of the main agitators and political defenders during Evo Morales's nearly 17 years in government.

However, following Torrico's recent warning that the MAS could lose its legal status due to Morales's obstinacy, he is now labeled as an "adenista." Morales recalled that Oscar Olivera, the former water leader in Cochabamba, introduced him to Gustavo Torrico, and later informed him about Torrico's connection with the ADN.

"Sometimes you have to purify people who come from other parties; unfortunately, they infiltrate. They are opportunists and calculators. 'Adenista,' 'adenista.' I got along with him as a soldier, I admit it, but then he completely changed and coincided with the right," Morales stated regarding Gustavo Torrico.

New Criticisms Against Arce

During his Sunday program, Morales also referred to President Luis Arce, whom he labeled as "neoliberal" due to his ties since the last government of Víctor Paz Estenssoro, leader of the MNR. Morales believes that Arce is an "emenerista" who has worked at the Central Bank of Bolivia during all the governments preceding the MAS.

He recalled that when he took office in 2006, he didn't know how to form his cabinet and turned to Carlos Villegas for having led the economic team during the campaign. In those circumstances, he also consulted Vice President Álvaro García Linera, who mentioned a young economist who had worked with Villegas, confirming that Luis Arce came from the Socialist Party.

"That's how (Luis Arce enters the cabinet), and there I made a mistake. I should have done follow-up and known where this guy comes from and who he is. I didn't do it, I apologize to the Bolivian people, and it was only during the coup and the elections that I found out that Lucho comes from the MNR and worked as the head of the cash registers at the Central Bank of Bolivia. He has a 100% neoliberal background, which is reflected in his contraction policies, and that's why he didn't want to grant the Juancito Pinto bonus," he affirmed.

In his usual style of attributing certain comments to others, Morales backed his coca grower base, who, according to the MAS leader, view the government of Luis Arce as a "traitor government to the dictatorship" due to the intervention carried out on Saturday morning at the headquarters of the Unique Federation of Peasant Workers that declared itself in resistance in the city of Santa Cruz.

It's an insult to democracy": TSE Member presents bill to eliminate primaries

 Tahuichi Tahuichi, a member of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), has introduced a bill to amend Law 1096 on Political Organizations and eliminate primary elections as currently conceived.

Tahuichi argued that primary elections are a costly and senseless expense for the state, resources that could be used for significant projects.

"The holding of primary elections is an aberration, it's an insult to democracy. It's an insult to the intelligence of Bolivians. It is important, it is imperative, that we can work as Bolivian men and women, as political actors, academics (...). In other words, this project seeks to annul primary elections. It makes no sense to go to primary elections with only one candidate; it makes no sense because we are only going to legitimize. We are not going to choose, to compete," stated the TSE member.

The electoral authority specified that his project aims to modify Article 29 of Law 1096 concerning primary elections. Additionally, he highlighted that in the 2019 primary elections, 29 million bolivianos were spent with no valuable results for the internal democracy exercise of the parties.

According to TSE activities, it is planned to launch the call for primary elections in August or September this year, with party members choosing their presidential candidates in December.

Legislative Assembly determines to review the economic resources and assets granted to the Police from the Governorship

 Due to the repression recorded in recent days in the city of Santa Cruz, in a session of the Legislative Assembly held on Monday, it was determined to review the economic resources and assets granted to the Bolivian Police from the Governorship. This is due to the violent repression against demonstrators defending Governor Luis Fernando Camacho.

From the Assembly it was reported that in view of the "repressive, violent, criminal, and human rights violations carried out by the National Police in recent days in the department of Santa Cruz, the Legislative Assembly, within its powers to oversee departmental resources and assets, declares," reads the first part of the document and details as follows:

1. Reject and condemn the relentless repression by the operational arm of the central level of the State against the people of Santa Cruz who are legitimately expressing themselves democratically.
2. Present complaints and interpellations to the representatives of the Bolivian Police and the Ministry of Government with the aim of presenting a report to the people of Santa Cruz on all their operational acts since December 28, 2022 to date.
3. Review the continuity of all departmental economic resources and assets that have been granted, delivered, or intended to the Bolivian Police in the department of Santa Cruz and that have been used for repressive purposes against the people of Santa Cruz, moving away from its constitutional role.
4. Demand respect and guarantees for the fundamental exercise of freedom of expression, thought, protests, peaceful claims against the criminal acts carried out by the repressive agency of the central level of the State.

Police repress self-organized march to demand release of Santa Cruz Governor

 Police repress self-organized march to demand release of the governor of Santa Cruz

The president of the Departmental Assembly, Zvonko Matkovic, had to be treated at the Kamiya clinic with other people affected by the gasification.

The police action took place once the column of the self-convoked march was arriving to the second lane in front of the Police Command on the second ring road. The gases affected people who were up to two blocks away from the police station.

After about 25 minutes the people returned again to the command to make their protest heard. The shouts were: "People listen, join the struggle, freedom, freedom" among others.

At the moment there is a tense calm despite the large police presence guarding the building of the olive green institution.

The president of the Departmental Assembly, Zvonko Matkovic, had to be treated at the San Juan de Dios hospital along with other people affected by the gasification.

Assemblywoman Paola Aguirre suffered a head wound and was treated at the Kamiya clinic. Later she will be transferred to San Juan de Dios hospital for a CAT scan.

Erwin Bazán, deputy of Creemos, said that they carried out a peaceful march that was gassed by orders of the ruling Movimiento Al Socialismo (MAS). "They gassed the first authorities of the department and Assemblywoman Paola Aguirre they caused her a blunt wound. The mobilizations are permanent. We will not stop until this communist regime releases the governor of Santa Cruz", he said.

Regarding the police action, he said that it was a cowardly attitude because these are people who are within the law. "We are going to resume the vigil at the Police Command and at the Cristo Redentor," he said.

Several marchers ran towards the first ring asking restaurants in the area to open their doors to protect women and minors.

Police repress and arrest young people protesting at El Cristo for the imprisonment of Camacho

Young people who reject the detention of Luis Fernando Camacho and the police have been facing off since the afternoon. Three arrests are reported

Hard confrontations between young people who were trying to reach the Police Command, in protest at the detention of Governor Luis Fernando Camacho, and uniformed officers. After 8:00 p.m., the police managed to advance and take position at the roundabout of El Cristo Redentor, further driving the demonstrators away.

A second front repelled another group of young people advancing from Ovidio Barbery Avenue. A significant police contingent equipped with chemical riot control elements is maintained in the area.

It is known that several police officers were injured, although there is still no report on the exact number. On the other hand, a fire in a lot located in the vicinity of the Departmental Command was reported as a result of the explosion of firecrackers. Vehicles parked in the area also suffered damage, according to neighbors. EL DEBER was able to count about three motorized vehicles burned.

Police sources indicated that personnel from the GIOE special group of the Drug Trafficking Fight Force operated from the second, third and seventh floors of the police building. In the same way, they reported the capture of at least three young people, although other sources speak of five, who were taken inside the Departmental Command.

The confrontations at El Cristo Redentor between young people and police put a discordant note on the 24-hour strike that was held in Santa Cruz. As the afternoon of this Friday 30th fell, a small group of hooded young people went to the front of the Departmental Police Command launching rockets. The police repression incensed more young people who immediately went to the area and reinforced the protest.

Santa Cruz lived a relatively peaceful 24-hour strike. The measure taken by the Assembly of Cruceñidad demands the release of Governor Luis Fernando Camacho, detained preventively in the Chonchocoro prison on the outskirts of La Paz.

Burning tires, firecrackers and tear gas were part of the scene that is being experienced on the second ring and El Cristo Redentor, in the capital of Santa Cruz.

The demonstrators sought to reach the Departmental Police Command, which is one block from El Cristo, on Cristóbal de Mendoza Avenue. While at least 200 officers guard the place, the young people took different routes, such as 21 de Mayo Street and Cristóbal de Mendoza and Ovidio Barberí avenues.

Police gas protesters in Santa Cruz and departmental prosecutor's office burned down

 Police gassed protesters in Santa Cruz and the departmental Attorney General's Office was burned.

In the midst of the confrontations, the population took over the Departmental Prosecutor's Office of Santa Cruz, where destruction and fires were registered

The apprehension of the governor of Santa Cruz, Luis Fernando Camacho, provoked this Wednesday afternoon several mobilizations in the department of Santa Cruz. As a result of these protests there were gasifications by the police in at least two points of the city. In addition, the premises of the departmental Prosecutor's Office were set on fire.

Christ the Redeemer, in the Second Ring, is one of the points of confrontation. The police arrived at this point to repress the people who were arriving to the rally called by the Pro Santa Cruz Committee, which was scheduled for 18:30.

Another of the points of gasification was in the vicinity of the Departmental Command of Santa Cruz. Some people gathered there to protest against Camacho's arrest, according to local media.

In addition, according to preliminary reports, the angry population took over the Santa Cruz Departmental Prosecutor's Office and started burning the institution.

In videos circulating on social networks, it can be seen how the doors of the Prosecutor's Office were smashed and how, from another point of this infrastructure, the facilities burned.

On Wednesday afternoon, after 14:00, the governor of Santa Cruz was apprehended by the police, in an act that was denounced as a "kidnapping" by several representatives. It is known that Camacho was taken by helicopter to the city of La Paz, but the location of the Santa Cruz authority is still unknown.

Camacho is admitted to the FELCC in the center of La Paz under strong police escort.

 After several hours of uncertainty about the whereabouts of Luis Fernando Camacho following his arrest, the governor of Santa Cruz was admitted to the Special Force Against of Struggle Against Against Against Against against Crime (FELCC) facilities in the center of the city of La Paz.

Around seven in the evening, Camacho entered the FELCC facilities on Sucre street, through the back door, with strong police custody.

After his arrest, it is rumored that the governor was taken by helicopter from Santa Cruz. Later, in El Alto, it was speculated that he had been taken to the FELCC in the Satellite zone, but shortly thereafter the caravan arrived in the center of La Paz.

While Camacho was being transported, the Minister of Government, Eduardo Del Castillo, denied that the governor had suffered any injuries and assured that his health is stable.

Camacho was arrested in the case known as "Coup d'Etat I", which is being developed for the crime of terrorism and was initiated by the complaint of former deputy Lidia Patty.

Who is Luis Fernando Camacho, the governor that Luis Arce arrested in Bolivia?

 Luis Fernando Camacho Vaca (born February 15, 1979 in Santa Cruz de la Sierra) is a Bolivian businessman, lawyer, and politician. He has been the governor of the department of Santa Cruz since May 3, 2021.

Biography

Camacho was born on February 15, 1979 in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. He is descended from immigrants from the department of Cochabamba and is the son of Santa Cruz businessman José Luis Camacho Parada (born 1945), who previously served as president of the Santa Cruz Civic Committee from 1981 to 1983. Camacho's father also became involved in business leadership, serving as President of the Santa Cruz Federation of Private Businesses from 1992 to 1994.

Camacho began his schooling in 1985 and graduated from high school in 1996 in his hometown. He studied law at the Private University of Santa Cruz de la Sierra (UPSA), earning a law degree in 2003. He also completed postgraduate studies at the University of Barcelona in Spain, earning a master's degree in Financial Law and Tax Law in 2005.

Business career

During his working life, Camacho served as an assistant to the First Court of Civil and Commercial Affairs in Santa Cruz and as an official of the Third Court of Family Affairs in Santa Cruz. He is currently the director of the law firm "Corporación Jurídica." He also became involved in business with his family, serving as legal advisor and shareholder of the National Investment Life Group from 2009 to 2015.

Personal life

Before becoming publicly famous in 2019, Camacho had previously had two partners from which he had separated but it should be noted that in those past relationships he had 3 children, which are as follows: María Fernanda Camacho (born in 1997), Luis Fernando Camacho (born in 1999) and José Luis Camacho (born in 2009). Already being the president of the Pro Santa Cruz Civic Committee and at the age of 40, Luis Fernando Camacho decides for the third time to marry again with his new partner Gabriela Antelo Miranda (born in 1981) who worked as a public relations officer with whom he had started dating since the beginning of 2019. But it would not be long before in June 2020, and without even having been married for a year, Camacho decides to divorce his wife Antelo again after a media scandal of domestic violence in the media. 

Later that same year of 2020, Luis Fernando Camacho makes public his new relationship but this time with the Queen of the 2019 Santa Cruz Carnival and model Fátima Jordán Bravo, who is a dentist (born in 1992) being 13 years younger than Camacho.

Civic-political career

In 2002, Camacho joined the political party Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario (MNR) of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, this being his first foray into politics. 18​ Camacho became at the age of 23 the vice president of the civic organization Unión Juvenil Cruceñista (UJC) remaining in office from 2002 to 2004.19​ Between 2008 and 2009, this organization would be identified by the International Federation for Human Rights as a paramilitary group.20​21​

From 2004, Camacho retired for a time from civic and political activism returning almost a decade later serving from 2013 to 2015 as the secretary general of the Provincial Civic Committees of Cruceñidad. 18​ In 2015, Camacho entered the Comité Cívico Pro Santa Cruz serving as the second vice president of the Committee until 2017.22​ That same year, Camacho assumes this time the position of first vice president of the Civic Committee until 2019.22​ In February 2019, amid accusations of pressures and arrangements for them to vote for him, he was elected and sworn in as the new president of the Santa Cruz Civic Committee for the period 2019-2021, replacing the former president Fernando Cuéllar Núñez.23​24​. He presented his resignation as president of the Santa Cruz civic committee to run as a candidate for the presidency of Bolivia. After stating: "I am not and will not be a candidate" and "I am disgusted to see personal interests above a nation!", which caused many criticisms of his consistency as a person.

Presidential nomination

On January 24, 2020, at an event held at the Europa Hotel in the city of La Paz, Camacho and Potosí's Marco Antonio Pumari presented their political alliance called "Creemos", which participated in that year's general election, a coalition made up of Civic Unity and the Christian Democratic Party, usually right-wing.

Political positions

His ideology has been described as fundamental Christian and ultra-Catholic.

He is placed on the extreme right. He has also been accused by feminists of being "misogynistic". His statements have been described as "violent" due to his alleged apology for drug trafficker Pablo Escobar, when he said "saving the differences, it was to take the agenda like Pablo Escobar did, but only to write down the names of the traitors of this people, because we want them to go to prison tomorrow, but not out of hatred and resentment, but for justice".

However, Camacho has thanked the support that he says has been offered by union movements, miners, police, armed forces, and social organizations in demonstrations.

Controversies

Federalism (2021)

On November 22, 2021, the governor of Santa Cruz, Luis Fernando Camacho, announced the socialization and consultation to implement the federal model of Bolivia. This caused mixed opinions from many sectors and mayors. The Bolivian Workers' Central (COB) accused the governor of Santa Cruz of "wanting to divide Bolivia" and the mayor of Cochabamba, Manfred Reyes Villa, stated that federalism would be "the best thing" that would happen to Bolivia but it is not yet time to discuss it before the current conflicts are resolved. The mayor of Santa Cruz, Jhonny Fernández, saw "something strange" in the federalism proposal and that "there is a set of work that we have to do to consolidate the autonomies".

Link with Panama Papers

Then-Minister of Communications of Bolivia, Manuel Canelas, denounced Camacho to the public, presenting a document from the Panama Papers case, in which Camacho is identified as an intermediary in the offshore scheme, which could have favored the hiding of fortunes, tax evasion, and money laundering. Canelas responds that the document does not accuse anyone, and that Camacho is mentioned along with other people.

Nadia Beller

On November 26, 2019, Luis Fernando Camacho and Marco Antonio Pumari were seen walking in the city of Potosí with the Santa Cruz lawyer Nadia Beller, who belonged to the ranks of MAS and was a plurinomial candidate for deputy for MAS-IPSP in the 2019 national elections. Both received numerous criticisms from the Bolivian population for this contact. In turn, Camacho denied any connection with the MASist Nadia Beller. In October 2020, a video circulated on social media in which Nadia Beller appeared making statements in favor of Camacho. In response, Camacho stated that he had "no relationship" with Beller and that the video was part of a "dirty campaign" against him.

Filtración de audio de Marco Pumari in 2019

An audio leak revealed that Marco Pumari requested 250,000 dollars and control of two customs offices from Luis Fernando Camacho in exchange for being his running mate in the general elections.53​54​ Later, during an interview with Fernando del Rincón on CNN en español, it was demonstrated that Luis Fernando Camacho deliberately leaked the audio in which Pumari's request was revealed,55​ but this did not prevent Pumari from joining Luis Fernando Camacho in the nomination for the general elections.

Filtración de video en reunión privada con la prensa 2019

On December 28, 2019, a leaked video shows Luis Fernando Camacho meeting with trusted men and some representatives of the Bolivian press and media; "It was my father who closed with the military, so they wouldn't come out; for that reason, the person who went to talk to them and coordinate everything was Fernando López, current Minister of Defense, that's why he's a minister, to fulfill the commitments"; in the same video, Camacho urges the press representatives to collaborate with the mobilizations, not showing news and information that could affect the 21-day mobilization, referring to the violent events that occurred in places like Sacaba and Senkata

Police 'kidnaps' Luis Fernando Camacho and takes him to Viru Viru to transfer him to La Paz

 Sources from the Government of Santa Cruz report that the Santa Cruz authority was approached and taken out of his vehicle when he was about to arrive at his home. The Governor's lawyer reported that the agents broke the glass of his vehicle. The "operation" was violent.

The Governor of Santa Cruz, Luis Fernando Camacho, was intercepted this Wednesday by police agents, when the authority intended to enter his home.

According to sources from the Government, the authority was arrested and then forced to board a police car. The agents pointed their guns at Camacho and hit him, according to witnesses.

Governor Camacho, who is also the head of the Creemos opposition alliance, was being investigated by the Prosecutors for the 2019 crisis and had recently been accused of "terrorism" for the 36-day strike.

"We don't know exactly what kind of operation it is, we only know that he was kidnapped. They took him out of his vehicle. They broke the glass of the motorized vehicle and now they are taking him to Viru Viru," the authority's lawyer, Martín Camacho, told EL DEBER.

He explained that shortly before the "violent operation" he was summoned for an accusation of a supposed rape that may have occurred several decades ago.

"We inform the Bolivian people that the Bolivian Police carried out the arrest warrant against Mr. Luis Fernando Camacho," later announced the Minister of Government, Eduardo del Castillo, in a message issued through his Twitter account.

Tension

In Viru Viru, several people, as well as officials from the Government, arrived at the platform to express their rejection of the operation activated by the Police around noon on Wednesday.

For his part, Camacho's driver related the way in which the departmental authority was arrested by the state security forces.

"They shot, they kicked me like robbing one, they took him (Camacho) in another motorized vehicle, they got him off the vehicle he was in, broke the glass and took him," the official explained.

"We are surprised, they shot us; they sprayed us with gas and reduced us," he added.

What are the five pillars that Añez puts forward to defend his coming to power in 2019?

 The former president recalled that the TCP recognized and extended her mandate as president of the country. She also pointed out that she was recognized by countries allied to Evo Morales.

Former president Jeanine Añez addressed the magistrates of the Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal (TCP) in a letter in which she exposed five elements that, she assures, opened the way to the presidential succession and validated her mandate as constitutional president of Bolivia. In this context, she rejected the crimes for which she is being prosecuted before the ordinary justice system. 

The former president asks the TCP to resolve the Concrete Unconstitutionality Action she filed against Articles 153 and 154 of the Penal Code referring to the crimes of "resolutions contrary to the Constitution and the laws" and "breach of duties" and to ratify the constitutionality of her government.

 "Next, I remind you of the history that you know, and that today you intend to bury, detailing: 1) the context of the crisis of 2019; 2) the international recognition to my government management; 3) the institutional recognition to my constitutional management; 4) the demonstration that it corresponded to me to assume the presidency of the Senate in November 2019; and 5) remind you that if you accept that I had violated the Constitution, well, you would be my main accomplices, because you communicated that the immediate succession corresponded, received me personally, admitted my presidential resources, and recognized and extended my mandate", reads the missive.

1) The crisis of 2019

Añez recalls that the crisis of 2019 had its origin in the maneuvers carried out by former President Evo Morales in search of a third and later fourth term in office when the Political Constitution of the State promulgated by him only guaranteed two terms.

The former president emphasized that Morales even ignored the binding referendum of February 21, 2016 to run again for the presidency under the argument that it was his "human right" and indicated that the former president himself announced the annulment of the 2019 elections.

In Añez's opinion, this action represents the recognition of the fraud and irregularities detected by the OAS audit that his government had requested.

Añez maintains that his constitutional succession was given before the resignation of Morales, who "ordered to empty the constitutional succession".

2) International recognition

The former president emphasized that her succession was recognized by the international community, the United Nations, the OAS, the European Union, countries of the region and even by governments allied with former president Morales, such as Russia and China.

3) Institutional recognition

Añez also stressed that the Bolivian State institutions, including the Supreme Court of Justice, the new Supreme Electoral Tribunal and the departmental electoral tribunals, the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Ombudsman's Office, governors' and mayors' offices, among others, recognized the constitutional succession.  

However, he pointed out that the most important recognition was from the TCP and the Plurinational Legislative Assembly (ALP), which had 2/3 of the MAS.

She recalled that the TCP issued a public statement on November 12, 2019, ratifying the validity of the constitutional declaration of 2001, which allowed her presidential succession "ipso facto", but also pointed out that they issued a constitutional declaration in 2020 that recognized and extended her mandate.

She also noted that they received her as constitutional president to inaugurate the judicial year and the constitutional year.

She also pointed out that, together with the presidents of the Senate Eva Copa and of Deputies Sergio Choque, she promulgated the law that called for new elections, and that during her transitory administration 78 laws were promulgated that counted with the 2/3 of the MAS parliamentarians.

 4) Presidency of the Senate

Añez cited article 41 of the Senate's regulations which states that it is the attribution of the second vice-president or second vice-president to replace the president and the first vice-president when both are absent due to any impediment and affirmed that before November 2019 this article was applied with her person; on June 5 and September 5 of that year.

The former president also recalled that Adriana Salvatierra, in her capacity as president of the Senate, assumed as interim president of the country in the absence of the two presidents.

"Since 1982 it was the first and only time that Bolivia was left without a president, without transfer of command, without a cabinet, without chamber presidencies, without a government; even worse, encouraging the establishment of a military regime in the face of the power vacuum. The most flagrant and anti-democratic breach of duty in our history was perpetrated by Evo Morales. I, Jeanine Añez, did my duty", she said.

 5) Resolutions "contrary" to the Constitution

The former president affirmed that she has several instruments and actions that validate the constitutionality of her mandate and indicated that, therefore, the Concrete Unconstitutionality Action she filed should be admitted and ruled upon.

"Magistrates, if on 12-Nov'19 I did something unconstitutional, well you did it eleven times. Either you admit my action or you sign your sentence of customary prevaricators (...) you did your part, because as Constitutional Tribunal you recognized and extended my mandate, you communicated it publicly, you received me in solemn acts, and you admitted and processed my presidential appeals. How can you remain silent before the fable of the 'coup' for 'resolutions contrary to the Constitution'?", the document states in the final paragraphs of the letter. 

Government and COB establish 3% wage increase for the basic salary and 4% for the national minimum wage

 The national government and the Central Obrera Boliviana (COB) established on Wednesday night a wage increase of 3% for the basic salary and 4% for the national minimum, in order to maintain the security and economic stability of the country.

This decision was taken at a meeting between President Luis Arce, ministers of State and the main representatives of the COB, headed by Juan Carlos Huarachi, at the Casa Grande del Pueblo.

"It has been agreed that the increase of the basic salary for 2022 will be 3% and the increase of the national minimum wage will be 4%", informed the President in a press conference.

Arce ratified his commitment to continue working for the welfare of Bolivians and acknowledged the maturity of the COB leaders to assume this decision for the good of the economy and stability of the country.

Arce said that in that meeting, which lasted about 4 hours, the COB workers were explained "in detail" the technical data handled by the government on the current economic situation, after overcoming the effects of COVID-19 and the mismanagement left by the de facto government.

"We are absolutely aware that this first achievement will give us the basis to continue advancing in all the pending issues with the COB," he said.

For his part, the executive secretary of the COB, Juan Carlos Huarachi, welcomed the willingness and commitment of the head of state to meet the demands of the workers and ratified that this organization will continue working to improve the productive apparatus.

"We are once again ratifying a commitment that we workers are going to guarantee the political stability of our Government", he endorsed.

From Pumari to Costas, Camacho turned his back on five allies

 Vladimir Peña indicated that the Governor of Santa Cruz "has become the Judas of the opposition". Creemos, the political front he leads, defends him.

Luis Fernando Camacho, governor of Santa Cruz, turned his back on five of his allies. Santa Cruz politicians qualify him as a disloyal person who now seeks to "take out of the game" regional figures that could overshadow him.

The people with whom he had this behavior are: Marco Pumari, Jeanine Añez, Angélica Sosa, Jhonny Fernández and Rubén Costas.

In December 2021, former civic leader Marco Pumari, who was his candidate for Vice-President in 2020, was arrested due to the 2019 post-electoral conflicts. Camacho could not make it to Potosí to follow up on the case. "Camacho did not defend neither Pumari who was his running mate, nor his bench", argued Nadia Beller, jurist and former legislator candidate.

On December 8, 2019, an audio was broadcast in which a voice attributed to Pumari asks Camacho for Customs and 250 thousand dollars. In an interview on CNN, the Santa Cruz native was in evidence as the one who leaked that material to the media.

In March, Camacho pointed against the "corruption" of the transitional government. However, according to sources of that administration, when Jeanine Añez assumed the Presidency, the then civic "went with a list to appoint ministers". They indicate that he placed people he trusted at the head of at least eight ministries.

Congressman Omar Rueda, from Creemos, detailed that for the general elections of 2020 Jhonny Fernández lent Camacho the acronym of Unión Cívica Solidaridad (UCS) so that he could run.

"UCS lent Camacho the acronym for a national project and used it for a departmental project only for him to benefit. He made an agreement with Angélica Sosa (...). When it was the subnational elections he asked us for support for Sosa, and we could not betray Jhonny, as deputies of the UCS faction", he indicated.

In December 2021, Camacho argued that there was an alleged conspiracy between the Movimiento Al Socialismo and former mayors Percy Fernández and Sosa, for the case of phantom items. "The height of cynicism. The scandal of the 800 items occurred when MAS was an ally of that administration", he emphasized.

Desirée Bravo, former councilwoman of Santa Cruz Para Todos (SPT), detailed that Sosa supported Camacho for both national and subnational elections. "Architect Sosa announced that SPT made alliance with Camacho for the national issue and then for the Governorship. It shows that he is a politician like those of the past, that when the ship sinks, he jumps," he complemented.

In the last month of last year, the Santa Cruz Government denounced Rubén Costas for allegedly using resources from the fight against covid for the propaganda of his mayoral candidates. Days ago, the Governor branded his predecessor as a traitor of the autonomy.

Vladimir Peña, former member of Demócratas, indicated that Costas was warned that an alliance with Camacho was risky because he would be disloyal to him.

"Camacho handed Costas and the Democrats on a silver platter to MAS. He made use of the Democrats to get to the governorship, so that they would not put up a candidate and so that he would give them his structure for the campaign and electoral control. Camacho has become the Judas of the opposition", said Peña.

Beller expressed that the Governor of Santa Cruz does not want to have competition in Santa Cruz, as he did when he was candidate for Governor. He added that with these actions he wants to divert the attention on "his bad management".

"To Angélica Sosa he denied her, after she supported him in his campaign. With Jhonny Fernandez he fought and that he lent him the acronym to be a candidate. He had quotas in the transition and denied Jeanine Añez. It is the disloyal character that Camacho has, he is disloyal with himself and with his principles. Many people supported him and now he received Camacho's stab", he added.

Página Siete called and sent a message to Camacho to have his counterpart. The Communication Unit of the Governor's Office referred as spokesman to Congressman Andres Romero, who said that there is a commission in charge of the follow-up of the Pumari process. At the same time he maintained that the ministries in the transition were a request of the civic movement.

"The Civic Committee made a call not to divide the vote, so not only one alliance, all the political tents gave their support to Luis Fernando Camacho", said the opponent. 

Deputies approve amendment to the Penal Code and increase from 5 to 20 years sentence for judges who free femicides

 It was proposed that the sanctions should also apply to magistrates, judges, lawyers and others. The bill was sent to the Senate.

The plenary of the Chamber of Deputies approved yesterday Bill 179/2021-2022, which establishes modifications to the Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and the Code of Penal Execution and Supervision, and determines to increase the penalties from 5 and 10 years to 20 years in prison for judges who benefit those accused of the crimes of femicide, infanticide and rape.

"We cannot remain indifferent to these facts that have caused mourning and pain in Bolivian families. In attention to the victims and their families we proposed this project to give them back their dignity. The purpose is not only to toughen the penalties so that other judges or prosecutors do not dare to commit these crimes. We are also going to avoid that feminicides, infanticides and rapists are free in the streets", emphasized the president of the Commission of Plural Justice, Public Ministry, and drafter of the norm, the congresswoman Lidia Tupa.

The bill was sent to the Senate for review and approval.

Among the modifications made to the Penal Code are the adjustment of article 173 on Prevaricato, to extend the penalty of imprisonment up to 20 years for judges or prosecutors who issue resolutions contrary to the Political Constitution of the State and other norms, in cases of femicide, rape and infanticide. The penalty for this crime is currently 5 to 10 years.

In the case of article 174 referred to Consortiums, the sanctions of 5 to 10 years only reached judges, prosecutors, lawyers and other assistants of the justice service who seek economic benefits in an illegal manner.

Now, with the proposed regulation, this penalty will also apply to magistrates, judges, conciliators, lawyers, police officers, experts, doctors and social workers. 

In addition, it establishes modifications to article 231, so that those accused of feminicide, infanticide and rape, cannot enjoy other precautionary measures other than preventive detention.

It also projects changes in article 239 so that the person deprived of liberty for acts of feminicide, rape or infanticide, who is seriously ill or terminally ill, may request the cessation of the precautionary measures as long as he/she can prove it through a medical certificate issued by the Institute of Forensic Investigation (IDIF).

It also modifies Article 174, which establishes that parole will not proceed in the three crimes of femicide, infanticide and rape. 

Bolivia asks the ICJ to recognize its sovereignty over Silala waters

  Bolivia asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Wednesday to declare the sovereign right of that country over the waters of the Silala River, in its counterclaim as part of the dispute it maintains with Chile before that court.

In the penultimate day of oral arguments before the ICJ in The Hague, the agent (main representative) of the Bolivian side, the diplomat Roberto Calzadilla, asked the court to declare the Bolivian right to the channels on the Silala that are in its territory.

Regarding these artificial canals, Calzadilla asked for the recognition of the Bolivian right to decide in a sovereign way when and how to carry out maintenance tasks.

Calzadilla also asked the ICJ to declare Bolivia's sovereignty over the "artificial flow" of the Silala waters in its territory, and that "Chile has no acquired rights" over this water flow.

Furthermore, the Bolivian diplomat argued, any claim by Chile over access to the waters of the Silala River, as well as conditions and compensation, "are subject to the conclusion of an agreement with Bolivia".

ICJ judges will hear Chile's reply to the dispute on Thursday, at the close of the cycle of oral arguments.

The court's final decision may still take months or even years, but it is binding and cannot be appealed.

The day before, the agent of the Chilean delegation, Ximena Fuentes, had asked the ICJ to declare the fluvial system of the Silala River as an "international watercourse".

She also asked the ICJ to rule on Chile's right to the use of "the waters of the Silala river system, in accordance with customary international law".

This case dates back to 2016, when Chile filed a claim in the midst of another dispute between the two countries before the same ICJ, in which the Bolivian side asked to force the Chilean authorities to negotiate a sovereign outlet to the sea.

In 2018, this same court argued that Chile was not "legally obliged to negotiate" an exit to the sea with Bolivia.

In that context, Bolivia's then president, Evo Morales, threatened to reduce the flow of water from the Silala to Chile's Atacama Desert and to impose tariffs for its use.

Chile and Bolivia have been at loggerheads for decades over the status of river and maritime waters.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been broken since 1978, when the last attempt to negotiate Bolivia's access to the Pacific Ocean failed.

Minister Del Castillo denies coordination with DEA and rules out arrest warrants for Valle Sacta case

 Evo denounced that the U.S. agency operates from some ministries. The head of government maintains that all institutions work within the framework of sovereignty. 

The Minister of Government, Eduardo del Castillo, ruled out on Monday that there is coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of the United States (US), as denounced on Sunday by former President Evo Morales.

The authority emphasized that all state institutions work within the framework of sovereignty and in compliance with current regulations. "I have no knowledge whatsoever", he indicated with respect to the affirmations of the coca growers' leader.

"This is completely false, there is no type of coordination by the Ministry of Government with the DEA, the work of the Bolivian Police and all its divisions and directions, is a work framed within the sovereignty and the legal regulations in force, there is no type of coordination with the DEA", he stressed.


Morales denounced on Sunday that there is a national and international campaign to discredit the Cochabamba tropic zone and, especially, its leaders, its leaders such as Andrónico Rodríguez, Leonardo Loza and himself. "I don't know if that, the DEA (is) within some ministry or some ministries trying to implicate and demonize the peasant movement of the Cochabamba tropics," he accused.

Regarding the investigation on the "frustrated" operation in Valle Sacta (Entre Ríos), the minister denied that there are arrest warrants against former anti-narcotics chiefs and said that the investigation will determine responsibilities on the facts.

"The Police does not issue arrest warrants, there is no arrest warrant for this case and these investigations will continue, we have already presented the criminal complaint and the administrative complaints, and it will be the investigation that will determine the guilt or the veracity of these audios", he said.