In Bolivia, supporters of left-wing former President Evo Morales are holding at least 200 soldiers hostage, according to the government. The protests began with roadblocks to prevent the arrest of Morales, who is accused of raping a 15-year-old girl while in office.
The former coca farmer denies the allegations and describes the accusations as an attempt to prevent him from returning to power. On Friday evening there was still discussion about the arrest of twenty soldiers. Morales himself announced that he would go on a hunger strike “until the government (…) sets up the negotiating tables,” the politician told reporters in the Chapare region on Friday.
Although he is constitutionally barred from running again, Morales wants to challenge his former ally and current opponent President Luis Arce and run for the left-wing MAS in next August’s presidential elections. Arce has long been considered Morales’ confidant. The economist and university professor served as Minister of Finance and Economy of Bolivia during Morales’ presidency (2006 to 2016).
Street fights with the police
Morales’ supporters have been protesting for weeks. Dozens of police officers were injured in street fighting on Friday. After 19 days of roadblocks in the South American country, police had previously taken action against protesters in the central Bolivian region of Cochabamba (pictured above). Tear gas was used.
Source: Krone
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