August 28, 2024, 9:16 AM
August 28, 2024, 9:16 AM
The departmental commander of the Santa Cruz Police, Erik Holguín, contradicted the Vice Minister of Internal Affairs and Police, Johnny Aguilera, by stating that the 200 police officers who intervened in the north of the Santa Cruz department were not surrounded by a group of attackers.
“The personnel is receiving logistical support at this moment. We will remain in the area as long as necessary to guarantee the property rights. Any other comments referring to an alleged ambush or some kind of siege that the same (squatters) had carried out have been completely ruled out. The Bolivian Police have the capacity to enter and leave when the higher authority (judge) allows it,” the police chief specified.
“There was resistance from the residents, motivated by promises from foreigners who deceive them. We started the intervention at 06:00 (on Monday) and we did not find anyone, due to the delay of the notary, the invaders grouped together and initially prevented the police and those who were in the place from leaving,” Aguilera told the media.
The police contingent left the capital of Santa Cruz on Sunday night, the 25th, and on Monday morning executed an order to seize 33 hectares that had been invaded, of the 128 hectares that comprise the private property ‘Causal de Caranda’, located in the north of the department of Santa Cruz, between the municipalities of Portachuelo and Buena Vista.
The officers feared a night attack by the invaders, so they took turns keeping watch, while they waited for the Departmental Police Command to send reinforcements to clear the access road to the Causal de Caranda property.
