The Bolivian Police say that in the blockades in favor of Evo Morales there are “armed violent groups” that put the population at risk

( Spanish) – The Bolivian Police said this Thursday that in the blockades that have been carried out in the country for 11 days, led by supporters of former President Evo Morales, there are alleged “violent armed groups” that put both citizens and the stability of the State at risk. .

In a statement released on their social networks, the Police pointed out that these groups act “for political interests” and asked the population to be careful when traveling through the blocking points. “From the Bolivian Police we will act as the Law empowers us to restore legal order in the country,” he added.

A day before, the Police said that some elements were attacked with firearms at a blockade on the Oruro-Potosí highway and that these events are being investigated. He also reported an attempted attack on a motorcyclist and added: “The right to protest is constitutionalized, however, its exercise must not be violent and must not violate the right of others.”

contacted the Police to request more information about these cases and is awaiting a response.

also contacted Morales for comment on allegations of violence at the blockades and is awaiting a response.

In an interview on Sunday on Radio Kawsachun Coca, Morales said that “the first blocker is Lucho Arce and the Government,” in reference to President Luis Arce, with whom he is politically in conflict. Meanwhile, Arce pointed out on Tuesday that road blockades harm the population and that progress will continue to unblock several points in the department of Cochabamba.

This is not the first time that the Government of Bolivia criticizes the blockades of supporters of former President Morales and attributes serious damage and even the death of citizens to them.

On Wednesday, Vice Minister of Citizen Security, Roberto Ríos, said that two people have died in the department of Cochabamba due to the blockades. The official indicated – without giving evidence – that both victims died in road accidents resulting from road closures, according to statements collected by the state agency ABI.

The blockades by Morales supporters began on October 14. The demonstrators protest against the judicial investigations into the former president for an alleged case of human trafficking and smuggling. Morales denies having committed any crime and says that the investigations against him are part of political persecution of President Arce.

Morales and Arce, both militants of the Movement towards Socialism (MAS) party, have a confrontation in which the former president accuses the president of wanting to prevent him from competing in the 2025 presidential elections, an accusation that Arce rejects.