MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Three Bolivian Police officers killed in clashes with Evistas

The officers were ambushed, the authorities explained

Three Bolivian Police officers died Wednesday in the mining town of Llallagua after clashes with Evistas blocking roads in the Potosí region. The law enforcement agents were trying to remove one of the numerous blockades hitting the country, causing economic damages in addition to the lack of food supplies, medicines, and fuel to defend former President Evo Morales' ambition of a new candidacy despite having exceeded the number of terms (two) allowed by the Constitution.

Lieutenant Jorge Barroso Rodríguez, Second Lieutenant Carlos Enrique Apata, and Sergeant Jesús Alberto Mamani Morales died while attempting to unblock a road crammed with Morales supporters, who have been protesting since last week against President Luis Arce Catacora's administration, accusing it of causing an economic crisis and manipulating institutions to exclude Morales from the August 17 elections.

The police were reportedly ambushed by farmers, with Mamani Morales’ death attributed to blows received during captivity. A police captain was also seriously injured. The clashes, which began Tuesday, left 17 people injured, including 15 civilians and two officers. Vice-Minister of Internal Affairs Jhonny Aguilera told Unitel that Barroso Rodríguez died as a result of “firearms shots.”

President Arce, nearing the end of his term in November, authorized military and police operations to clear the Oruro-Cochabamba highway and other major roads, denouncing the blockades as attempts to destabilize the government and force an unconstitutional candidacy for Morales. Arce met with ministers and security commanders to address the escalating violence, which has heightened tensions in Llallagua.

“Today we have instructed both the Bolivian Police, through our Minister of Government, and our Armed Forces, through our Minister of Defense, an operation to unblock the Oruro-Cochabamba highway”, said Arce.

“We regret again that personal interests are affecting the population and especially the pocket of the most humble, of the most humble people, with this escalation of prices that we have seen in different markets,” he also mentioned.