The Bolivian justice system called on Tuesday former President Evo Morales to testify as a witness in a case of alleged terrorism, sedition and conspiracy against former interim president Jeannine Áñez and other protest leaders during the 2019 crisis.
The summons takes place in the midst of an internal struggle in the ruling party between the former president and the president of Bolivia, Luis Arce, and days after Morales himself was summoned by justice for an alleged case of rape and human trafficking at a young minor who became pregnant while he was still president.
Morales attributes the beginning of this process to a persecution by the government to prevent him from being a presidential candidate in 2025.
Morales (2006-2019) had not previously been called to testify in the trial against Áñez and was now summoned at the request of Áñez’s own defense, which has requested that the former interim president be subjected to a trial of responsibilities – for leaders for crimes committed in his position and judged by the Supreme Court—and not by ordinary means.
Áñez, who is serving a 10-year sentence for another case, has been in prison since March 2021.
The protests, which led to Morales’ resignation, left 37 dead after elections denounced as fraudulent by the Organization of American States (OAS) in which the former president was seeking a fourth term.
Along with the former president, the former Minister of Justice, Iván Lima – a key member of the Arce government – was called to testify virtually as a witness on October 21. Lima recently said that if a liability trial was not filed against Áñez, instead of an ordinary one, it was on a whim and at the request of Morales.
For his part, Morales is entrenched in his coca-growing fiefdom. His supporters have blocked roads in central Bolivia, including two important roads that link the west with the east.
On the second day of blockades, clashes were reported between his followers and the police. The Minister of Government, Eduardo del Castillo, reported at least 13 detainees.
Morales accuses his heir and successor, President Luis Arce, of “building up” the statutory rape case to invalidate his candidacy for the 2025 presidential elections by the ruling Movement towards Socialism (MAS) and denounced political persecution in the midst of a strong internal dispute in the ruling party.
Last Friday, prosecutor Sandra Gutiérrez announced that an arrest warrant would be issued, but days later the measure was still not confirmed and the prosecutor assured that as a strategy no further information would be provided because the case is under confidentiality.
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