Supporters of former Bolivian president Evo Morales are holding at least two hundred soldiers hostage, after the assault on three barracks as part of the anti-government demonstrations that began in the country about twenty days ago, according to authorities.
Friday, November 1 “Three units were attacked by irregular groups in the Chapare area, in the department of Cochabamba, who took more than two hundred soldiers hostage”declared the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release addressed to the international community. they too “seized weapons of war and ammunition”he added.
In the same region, the government sent the army to help police clear roads blocked by Morales supporters, who denounce a “political persecution” of its leader, whose ambition is to return to power.
Initially, authorities reported the occupation of a regiment barracks by protesters on Friday in Cochabamba. A Defense Ministry source then informed Agence France-Presse (AFP) that “twenty years” of detained soldiers.
In a video released by the local press and confirmed by this source, we saw sixteen soldiers surrounded by peasants brandishing pointed sticks. “Cacique Maraza’s regiment was taken by Tipnis groups, they cut off our water and electricity, they took us hostage”says a soldier in this document. The Tipnis are known as the indigenous territories of Chapare, where Evo Morales, former coca grower and first indigenous person to govern Bolivia (2006-2019), has his strongest political base.
A hunger strike for Evo Morales
The former president announced on Friday that he will begin a hunger strike to demand dialogue with the government of President Luis Arce so that he can “install (…) discussion committees » political and economic. “And for the dialogue to be viable, responsible and produce results, I ask for the participation of international organizations from friendly countries”continuous. Evo Morales assured that his hunger strike will continue “until the liberation of all (his) comrades » arrested by the police. According to authorities, sixty-six people were arrested on Friday, in addition to about fifty more since the beginning of the unrest on October 14.
Supporters of the former president have blocked twenty roads in central Bolivia since the beginning of the movement, supporting their leader, who could not run in the 2025 presidential elections due to a court decision that disqualified him. Evo Morales, 65, is under criminal investigation over accusations of raping a 15-year-old girl while he was head of the country, which he denies.
The protests have spread and the protesters are also demanding the resignation of President Luis Arce, whom they accuse of being responsible for the fuel shortage that Bolivia is experiencing due to lack of foreign currency to buy it.
Luis Arce, a former Morales ally, came to power in November 2020. The two men are vying for control of the left and the nomination for the next presidential election.
