Bolivian President Luis Arce Catacora said this weekend that the supply of diesel fuel and the prices of family basket items would be normalized in the next 10 days after over three weeks of road blockades by followers of former President Evo Morales who want him to run in next year's elections and be spared the rape and human traffic charges against him.
Bolivia's Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal (TCP) ruled Friday once again that former President Juan Evo Morales Ayma is banned from running again for such an office, given the number of terms already served. The TCP thus insisted that no elected authority can seek a third term after having been reelected consecutively or otherwise.
Bolivian authorities announced Sunday that they would be launching Operation Recovering the Homeland after followers of former President Evo Morales seized three military barracks last week, keeping some 200 troops hostage.
Former Bolivian President Evo Morales announced Friday that he would go on a hunger strike as the conflict between him and his former Minister of Economy and ally, and current president, Luis Arce Catacora, continues to escalate.
Former Bolivian President Evo Morales was the target of gunfire on Sunday as his convoy traveled through Chapare, a coca-growing region where Morales has long held significant influence. Morales emerged unscathed but accused President Luis Arce of orchestrating the attack, an accusation Arce swiftly denied, pledging “an immediate and thorough investigation.”
At least 44 people were arrested and dozens injured Friday as Bolivian Police clashed with supporters of former President Evo Morales who were staging road blockades in various parts of the country causing food and fuel shortages, endangering the livelihoods of numerous people, particularly the young and the elderly.
Road blockades by supporters of former President Evo Morales have caused food shortages in 32 hospitals, homes and shelters in 4 departments across Bolivia, it was reported Thursday. Ombudsman Pedro Callisaya Aro said the situation affecting at least 14 healthcare facilities as well as several shelters running out of supplies was “alarming,” particularly for children and adolescents, the elderly and hospitalized patients.
Four days into the road-blockading protests staged nationwide by followers of former President Evo Morales, Government sources said Friday that up to US$ 1.5 billion worth of exports had been affected by the move. In addition, private entrepreneurs have also complained about the damages caused to them by the populist defense of the former head of state under prosecution for rape and human trafficking.
Followers of former Bolivian President Evo Morales keep blocking strategic roads in the South American country causing numerous troubles to ordinary citizens. Although they invoke a series of plausible reasons, the main ground for such a deployment is believed to be the protection of their leader who is being prosecuted for human trafficking and child abuse.
Bolivia's Judiciary issued an arrest warrant against former President Evo Morales in connection with a human trafficking case involving a minor but the measure was halted later, despite which the indigenous leader claimed he felt persecuted and threatened.