A massive march accompanies Arce to challenge the ‘right’; offices were empty

Hundreds of MAS militants, including peasants, trade unionists, miners, coca growers, men and women organized with their social sectors, came to the city of La Paz from all regions of the country to support the government of Luis Arce and David Choquehuanca, who they ratified their frontal fight against the “coup right that does not have a program”.

The La Paz center was also packed with public servants who, according to the Vice Ministry of Communication, used a vacation day to attend the massive concentration. Although on Wednesday Complaints of “carrying” of State personnel and charges to pay for the mobilization were registered.

“Today, like never before, we have the largest march and rally in our history. The maturity of the Bolivian people and their organizations has prevailed once again and they are showing that the most important thing we have to defend is our democracy. The Bolivian people do not want any more blows,” said the president after having sung and danced on the stage set up in the Plaza Mayor in San Francisco.

Arce added that the population showed unity in the face of the alleged attempts to destabilize his government.or by groups of the “coup right” that even politicize the census to “benefit a few.”

“The people have many needs and will not be seduced or surprised by the right that he will always try to weaken the people with anything. The people learned that the right only has siren songs, it does not have realities, it does not have a program, it does not have a profile of the country that it is building, because it is not interested in that,” assured the head of state, who gave a speech near 20 minutes.

In the official act, as is customary, the Minister of the Presidency, María Nela Prada, performed several songs and premiered a song whose chorus says: “We are a people, we are Lucho, we are David. My Bolivia is united with my brothers Lucho and David”.

Yesterday’s march descended from the Ceja de El Alto at 7:00 and from 11:00 the central act beganl at the seat of government with speeches by the leaders of the Unity Pact and the Bolivian Workers Central (COB).

Vice President David Choquehuanca was also present and only used eight minutes to address the attendees. At that time, he remembered that During the government of Jeanine Añez there was “mourning, discouragement, persecution of freedom of expression, extrajudicial executions, looting, imprisonment and violation of human rights”. He stressed that in 2020 there was a “political awakening” of the people to recover from the “coup” through brotherhood and respect.

Choquehuanca praised the recovery of natural resources since 2006 and the work of the former Minister of Economy and today President of the State with the application of the Social, Community and Productive economic model. “To our brother president, teacher of the plural economy ‘made in Bolivia’ Luis Arce Catacora”, he highlighted and the public accompanied with an ovation.

Although there was jubilation and signs of unity, The atmosphere that precedes the MAS march is one of tensions and fissures in the ruling party. In recent days, internal problems have been reactivated and the renewal speech against Evo Morales’ “prorogue” has returned, according to statements by deputy Rolando Cuéllar.
Likewise, the former Minister of Government, Carlos Romero, questioned the Executive for its weak fight against drug trafficking that does not guarantee the security of the State.

Although Evo and David marched together for several kilometers, the MAS leader limited himself to saying “Long live Lucho and David” and highlighted that Arce was accompanied by the ambassadors of Argentina and Venezuela, but did not mention the vice president. He quickly began his speech about lithium and the privatization of this resource.

“If the right is patriotic, they join in working together to continue guaranteeing the reconstruction of the economy and if they don’t join in they are anti-patriotic and sell-out. If those sellouts make political problems, they will meet these people, with the people, ”he warned.

The speeches started after 1:00 p.m.. At noon, several sectors withdrew from the place while others arrived from the South and North Zone.

Between 10:00 and 12:00 yesterday, business hours, THE DUTY visited at least four ministries where there were few officials workingaccording to the information provided by the security and cleaning personnel of the state offices.

In the Ministry of Public Works there were strict controls. Entry was only allowed with a credential or authorization. The staff dealing with the cleaning of the building revealed that there were no officials in the offices, only some secretaries and correspondence managers.

“Everyone is on the march. There are only some secretaries and correspondence, “said a woman in charge of cleaning.

In the morning hours, the block of the “Blue Warriors”, made up of officials from the Ministry of Public Works and headed by Minister Edgar Montaño

The authority justified its presence and that of its collaborators on the grounds that they requested a day off on account of their vacation and that they have the right to protest.

“I also have the right to enjoy a day offI am doing that because for us there is no Saturday or Sunday,” said Montaño.

A similar situation was seen in the Ministry of Rural Development and Lands. The police guarding this unit reported that large number of workers moved to the MAS concentration and suggested returning the next day to receive care because they did not know if the staff would return.

The Ministries of Planning and Culture did not work either. The police officers could not avoid the consultations and admitted that the officials were at the MAS march. Although in the case of Cultures, they first said that the staff was in a meeting that was going to last after 2:00 p.m.

Continuous hours were arranged in all institutions. Ministers of State and legislators, such as Leonardo Loza, Omar Yujra, Andrónico Rodríguez and Freddy Mamani, also attended the rally.

The Vice Minister of Communication, Gabriela Alcón, reported that no State activity was paralyzed. For his part, the Minister of Government, Eduardo Del Castillo, said that those who requested permission have the right to march.

Senator Andrea Barrientos, from Comunidad Ciudadana, denounced on Wednesday that there were even charges of Bs 80 to mobilize the militants.

Token distribution
This medium was able to verify that after noon different members of social organizations lined up and requested tokens to support their attendance at the rally.

For example, a person with a badge from the National Confederation of Producers with a Retail Folder (Conalprodc) distributed tokens to its associates at the height of the Cotel facilities.

In the case of the Vinto Metallurgical Company (EMV), it not only distributed tickets, but also food just outside the Faculty of Engineering in the Obelisk.
Even the staff of this company also consumed alcoholic beverages, according to the videos recorded by EL DEBER.

coca conflict
yesterday’s day, the conflict between coca growers in the Yungas did not cease. Parallel to the official march, an assembly of the leadership of Arnold Alanes was held, which then marched to the central zone.

While the “organic” coca growers held a vigil at their headquarters in Villa Fátima for fear of an attack. No clashes were recorded.

The Minister of Rural Development and Lands, Remmy Gonzales, tried a third approach, but the dialogue failed and the conflict persists because they demand the closure of the “illegal” market.