The Bolivian authorities denounced over the weekend taking 200 soldiers as “hostages” by peasants linked to former president Evo Morales who They protest against the “judicial persecution” of their leader and ask resignation of president Luis Arce.
Here’s what is thought concerning the taking of “hostages” arising from the highway blockade that has been held since October 14 by supporters of Morales, who’s in battle along with his former minister Arce for the presidential candidacy of the ruling left. for the 2025 elections.
The Armed Forces introduced on Friday that “irregular armed teams” took management of a unit, within the division of Cochabamba (heart), “with the kidnapping of army personnel, weapons and ammunition“, with out mentioning what number of uniformed officers have been stranded.
In one of many first movies that circulated on social networks, you possibly can see some 16 troopers surrounded by villagers armed with sharp-tipped sticks.
Members of the Bolivian Police collect to intervene in blocked roads this Monday, in Mainara (Bolivia). Photograph: EFEA uniformed officer is heard saying: “The Cacique Maraza regiment has been taken (…) They lower off our water and electrical energy, they took us hostage.“.
The subsequent day, the Overseas Ministry introduced that “three army models have been attacked by irregular teams (…) taking greater than 2 hundred army personnel hostage.”
The deputy minister of coordination with social actions, Juan Villca, knowledgeable AFP on Monday that the three barracks “They're nonetheless taken.”
Vicente Choque, head of the indigenous federations of Chapare, within the division of Cochabamba, refused in an interview with AFP to speak about “hostages”.
“There aren’t any hostages, for hostages, I feel the federal government is exaggerating, mendacity,” he stated. He acknowledged her sure “there are vigils” outdoors the barracks to forestall extra uniformed officers from reaching the scene.
In line with him, 2,000 to three,000 individuals are “on the gates of the Ninth Military Division”, one of many models captured in Çapare.
He defined that in a primary response, his companions have arrived on the army ward for him complain about some autos that have been inside and that they’d have been utilized by the police, in “assassination that they wished to commit” towards Morales.
He assured on October 27 that They tried to shoot him lifeless in Çaparethat his truck was hit 14 occasions by bullets and his driver was injured.
His followers concern that the prosecution will subject an arrest warrant towards him for the suspects crimes of rape, trafficking and smuggling of minors when he was ruler, although he denies the information.
Picture of pictures fired on the car held by former president Evo Morales. Photograph: EFEIf the boys in uniform need to depart the regiment, Choque assured, “they coordinate” with the individuals on the doorways and “You may exit in peace.”
However lawyer Omar Durán, a retired Armed Forces officer, assured AFP that the troopers “are detained within the nation, they aren’t letting them depart”.
On the outskirts of the barracks, an AFP video reveals women and men, together with youngsters, beneath leafy bushes and tarps to guard themselves from the solar, going about their enterprise. Within the barracks you possibly can see troopers in an alert place, however unarmed.
The scenario is identical within the different two barracks, Choque assured.
Retired army officer Durán expressed his doubts concerning the intelligence work within the talked about models, stressing that, due to this, the required preventive measures had not been taken to keep away from such an motion.
He pressured that though each army unit has intelligence workplaces, they don’t perform correctly. because of lack of state assist.
The armed forces have been deserted
“The Armed Forces They’re deserted, they haven’t any riot gear“The small arms they’ve are weapons of struggle,” he defined.
Morales' followers management the streets in Chapare. Photograph: APHe additionally talked about that the army They’re reluctant to react decisively for concern of getting no assist from the federal government.
“The officers imagine that on the first shot, the federal government will abandon them,” he stated.
Nevertheless, Deputy Minister Villca predicted that what occurred will probably be revealed. “There will definitely be a deep investigation (…) into the military that allowed (farmers) to enter,” he stated.