Bolivian government accuses Evo Morales of "terrorism"

The Bolivian government filed a complaint against former President Evo Morales with the prosecutor's office on Thursday for "terrorism" and seven other crimes , after the release of an alleged audio recording in which he ordered the isolation of La Paz with roadblocks, the Minister of Justice reported.

For four days, Morales supporters have paralyzed the main roads in central Bolivia, especially in the department of Cochabamba, his political stronghold.

They are demanding the resignation of President Luis Arce, whom they blame for the economic crisis and for manipulating the justice system and the electoral body to exclude Morales from the elections next August.

Minister César Siles stated that the reported crimes include "terrorism, public incitement to commit crimes, attacks on the security of public services (...), obstruction of electoral processes," among others.

We recommend: Evo loses his candidacy.

The law provides for a sentence of 15 to 20 years for terrorism , the most serious crime.

On Wednesday, a former leader close to Morales released to the media a purported phone recording in which a voice, which he attributes to the coca grower leader, can be heard instructing the closure of two important access roads to La Paz (east), the seat of government.

We have asked (...) the Public Prosecutor's Office to act with due speed, so that it can quickly admit this complaint," Siles said.

According to the government, "more than 40 roadblocks" were reported across the country this Thursday.

Out of the electoral race

Morales, who governed Bolivia for three terms between 2006 and 2019, failed to register his candidacy before the May deadline because he did not have a political party.

He insisted on participating in the elections on August 17 despite a court ruling that prohibits more than one presidential reelection.

Since last October, he has been in the coca-growing area of ​​Chapare, in Cochabamba, where he is seeking refuge from an arrest warrant for a case of alleged trafficking of a minor , which he denies.

"A new process is added to the thirteen that the Arce government initiated against me in recent months," Morales wrote in X and noted that this complaint will not calm popular demands.

Since 2023, Bolivia has been experiencing an economic crisis stemming from a shortage of dollars and fuel. The government has depleted its international liquid reserves to import fuel and sell it at subsidized prices on the domestic market.

Morales' supporters are therefore calling for President Arce's resignation.

The current president, however, has indicated that the roadblocks are seeking his resignation in order to disrupt the general elections and "enable" Morales' candidacy "by force."

We recommend: Arce drops out of the presidential race, leaving the path open to Evo Morales.

Similarities

Morales faced a similar situation in November 2019. The then- right-wing government of Jeanine Añez also accused him of "terrorism."

That administration released a video in which Morales was allegedly heard, during a telephone conversation, instructing his followers to block the country's highways during the social unrest following his resignation.

The former head of state denied the accusation at the time. The case was later dropped when leftist Luis Arce, who had been his economy minister, took office.

With information from AFP.