The struggle within the MAS is now violent and the magazines are asking for early elections

During the first day of the march led by former President Evo Morales, The two factions of the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) clashed violently. Blows, stones and explosives on the road in the Vila Vila region (Oruro).

That was the framework that the magazines took advantage of to Demand that the government of President Luis Arce bring forward the elections generals. Moreover, Morales, at the inauguration of his march, said that he has on his side “the third man of the State”, in reference to the president of the Senate, Andrónico Rodríguez, and that if the first and second men “abandon the people”, Andrónico will take the reins of power.

The Government’s response was immediate. Arce’s ministers ratified their accusation against Morales of conspiring with his march, which aims to carry out a coup d’état and shorten Arce’s mandate to force his qualification as a candidate. The Government concludes that “Evo Morales has gone from being a victim of a coup d’état to being a self-confessed coup-monger,” and that in accordance with the Constitution, the appropriate criminal proceedings will be initiated.

The leader of the Single Trade Union Confederation of Peasant Workers of Bolivia (Csutcb) of the Evo faction, Ponciano Santos Colque Cruz, without mincing words, told the press that “now yes”, addressing the population, He asked “that a state of emergency be put on alert,” and then he warned Arce:

“Because the time has come, we are tired of this Government (…) now yes, I publicly say: Now (Luis Arce) has to call for general elections, because there is no other (way)”, said Colque Cruz during a break in the march on the highway between Oruro and La Paz.

Next to him was Evo Morales who, patiently, waited for his entire leadership to speak and denounce that Arce’s people were waiting for them in Vila Vila with shock groups, but that nothing would stop them until they reached La Paz, because The march is “to defeat this corrupt, incapable and starving government.”

For his part, Morales reinforced the denunciation of the “ambush” that the Arcistas supposedly had prepared in Vila Vila. From the beginning of the march that began in Caracollo, he was weaving the discourse against Arce’s mandate, even involved the Armed Forces and the Bolivian Police, And with a wink, he invited both institutions to join his cause.

In this context, the skilled politician fired the following phrases on his first day of march: “If the first and second men abandon the people, The third man of the State is with us“Brother Andrónico Rodríguez,” said Morales at the beginning of his march.

“I ask the Armed Forces and the Police to be with their people and not to repress”Morales said hours later after assuring that from those institutions “good police officers and good soldiers” informed him that they disobeyed the order to intervene and repress.

As the large caravan moved steadily along the lane heading to La Paz, near the town of Vila Vila, a large group of people, many of them wearing miner’s helmets, It was installed in the middle of the road to “control” vehicle traffics.

While, Others camouflaged themselves among the rocks and straw of the nearby hills.like five years ago when on the morning of November 10, 2019, supporters of Evo ambushed passengers on 11 buses who were going to La Paz to protest against Morales’ electoral “fraud.”

Yesterday afternoon something similar happened, but The “ambushers” were outnumbered, beaten, stoned and explosives thrownAs soon as they approached Vila Vila, the Evistas said “present” by detonating explosives and placing stones in the waves that many women and men, defiant, made spin in the air. And the response from the other side was similar.

Suddenly, amidst screams and loud explosions, the The magazines took the field with slingshots, blows and curses against the archists, Those who escaped as best they could and got lost among the sharp rocks of the hills; not all were lucky.

Many stumbled as they fled, and the Evists went all out. Their enemies were thrown around in the dirt, stones and straw, while they were kicked all over the body, beaten with sticks and cursed with a thousand words. The police, who were at the scene a few hours earlier, disappeared.

According to the version of former minister Teresa Morales, the march was surprised by dynamite explosives, which briefly dispersed the march and everyone escaped as best they could. In the confusion, the fate of Evo, Andrónico and their leaders was unknown. It was a chaos of fear, violence and desperation. After the event and overcoming the archists, the march passed triumphantly through Vila Vila and many voices were heard saying that nothing and no one would stop them until they reached La Paz where they would achieve their goal.

Health Minister María Renée Castro reported last night that As a result of the brawl, 26 people were injured, including Evistas and Arcistas. They are between 29 and 60 years old. The minister explained that, although they are not serious, there are fractures of elbows and ribs; bruises, wounds to the head, arms and face of the affected.

However, the goal of shortening Arce’s term did not emerge after the confrontation. Before the 17th, it had already been simmering. The leader Colque Cruz is one of its main proponents. “An incapable government that does not solve the country’s problems will have to call early elections”the magazine stated on Monday 16th.

Arce, through his ministers of Defense and Government, reinforced his position that Evo plans a “coup” with the sole purpose of empowering himself and return to power despite the constitutional ban.

Following the confrontation, the government reported that 26 people were injured, with injuries ranging from beatings and cuts to fractured ribs or limbs.

The government announced that due to the former president’s “coup-mongering and anti-democratic” actions against the Arce government, a criminal action is being prepared to prosecute Evo Morales.

Evo’s march reached the town of Panduro to spend the night and continue its journey to La Paz on Wednesday.