On Monday, the Bolivian police dispersed with tear gas and arrested two supporters of former President Evo Morales who arrived in La Paz, without their leader, in a march against the economic crisis and demanding that the judicial process against the former ruler for alleged abuse of a minor in 2016.
in a new pulse between Morales and the Bolivian presidentLuis Arce, less than seven months before the general elections, Morales’ supporters arrived in the center of La Paz on Monday after having marched about 100 kilometers.
The protest takes place one day before the court hearing scheduled against Morales, following an investigation by the prosecutor’s office for human trafficking for the alleged abuse of a 15-year-old girl who became pregnant while he was still president of Bolivia. In the march, they protested against what they consider “political persecution” against the former president.
Morales, who did not accompany his followers in the call, has remained entrenched in his coca-growing fiefdom since September, in the center of the country, to avoid the arrest warrant required by the prosecutor’s office under the protection of the coca-growing unions that he presides. He is also prohibited from leaving the country.
The former president and his related sector accuse the Arce government of a political-judicial plot to remove him from the race for the August presidential elections. However, the Supreme Court has already ruled against his candidacy, once the reelection that was submitted to popular consultation in his last term was annulled by the same judicial body for going against the Bolivian Constitution.
The protesters tried to enter the central square, which houses the Government Palace, but the police blocked their way amid clashes. The uniformed officers responded with tear gas to disperse the protest.
“So far there are two arrested (detained),” the Police Commander in La Paz, Gunther Agudo, told the media, who also reported that the protesters tried to overtake the police and even tried to steal their police implements.
The Minister of Government, Eduardo del Castillo, said at a press conference that the march did not have a large turnout and described it as “in defense of pedophilia.” In addition, he accused the protesters of “ambushing” police buses that were on their way to La Paz.
Del Castillo reported that three police officers were injured, as well as two civilians who were on other private buses.
Meanwhile, the Prosecutor’s Office reported that a hearing on precautionary measures will be held on Tuesday to which Morales is summoned by court order. His defense announced that he will not attend because he was not notified.
“Who is going to issue the arrest warrant, in this case, is already the judge,” stressed the prosecutor handling the case, Sandra Gutiérrez. In addition, she explained that the file against Morales would be entering the indictment, which gives up to six months. to continue investigating and that the preliminary stage concludes.
The march began on Friday of last week from the town of Patacamaya, about 100 kilometers from La Paz, with dozens of Morales supporters, but it did not equal the one called last year by the former ruler against the Arce government.
For 24 days in October, there were road blockades that left more than $1 billion in losses, according to the government.
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