Morales claimed that the violent miners protests this week that resulted in the beating and killing of Deputy Interior Minister Rodolfo Illanes and the deaths of three demonstrators were the latest unsuccessful attempt by his political enemies to forcibly remove him from office.
Bolivian Deputy Interior Minister Rodolfo Illanes has been killed after being kidnapped by striking mineworkers, the government said late on Thursday. Illanes had gone to talk to protesters earlier on Thursday in Panduro, around 160 km from the capital, La Paz, but was intercepted and kidnapped by striking miners.