A Bukele law in Bolivia?

The national government has presented a bill for express trials of thieves in the country. The proposal introduces a new summary criminal procedure, through which the Prosecutor’s Office will present a formal accusation to prosecute the thieves and seek a seven-year sentence without the right to pardon.

When the proposal was announced, in an event held at the Casa Grande del Pueblo, in the presence of public officials and members of the ruling party, a banner caught attention that said: “This is a Bukele law and it is more necessary than ever.” ”, which sought to interpret the spirit of the norm that must be approved in the Legislative Branch.

The bill creates the criminal offense of “flagrant seizure of another’s property” and focuses on the punishment of the perpetrators of robberies, thefts, cattle rustling and jukeo (theft of minerals). The Minister of Government, Carlos Eduardo Del Castillo, explained what it is about. “What does this mean? That the first and last hearing that these criminals have will be sentenced to seven years (in prison), ”he said.

The evidence will be a video or the report of a Police agent. Now, upon suspicion of a crime, the Prosecutor’s Office presents an indictment (which is provisional while the incident is investigated and before presenting the formal accusation to take the case to trial. This will eliminate the investigative stage and accuse directly.

The so-called “Bukele Law” by the adherents of the Government party refers to the regulations approved in El Salvador, where gang members are detained and sentenced, without the option of defense. In accordance with international complaints of violation of human rights, President Nayib Bukele’s policies also affected political adversaries due to simple accusation.

Although it is important to fight against crime, we must take into account that in Bolivia the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial govern, so this rule would open a window for abuses to be committed in these cases. summary criminal proceedings.

On the other hand, in addition to punishing robberies and crimes in general, a prevention policy on the part of the State is missing, as well as the repair of social conditions that give rise to the commission of robberies or thefts. A robber is not the same as someone who steals bread because he has nothing to eat.

Furthermore, if this rule is approved, it is assumed that the prisons will be more full and overcrowded than at the moment, when we see that a prison like Palmasola (whose capacity is for a few hundred inmates) exceeds 8,000 people. There is also no efficient prisoner classification system while rehabilitation programs are insufficient.

Therefore, it is necessary to think about comprehensive policies and not just punitive ones. It is to be hoped that, when the debate on this norm begins, the analysis of the problem will expand and that comprehensive solutions can be built for the causes of the commission of crimes.

On the other hand, it is expected that the Bolivian Police and judicial system will show greater effectiveness in the search, trial and punishment of big fish in drug trafficking, smuggling and other major crimes that do so much damage to the country.