Calvo: “I do not regret facing the civic role, although the human cost has been my family and losing all my sources of employment”

Three days have passed since it was decided to lift the indefinite strike, after 36 full days, in which santa cruz stoically complied the measure of pressure in demand by the Population and Housing Census.

The indefinite strike in the department of Santa Cruz has been to date the measurement of pressure that lasted the longest and that had as protagonists the citizenship and the Inter-institutional Committee. It was the Civic Committee, led by Rómulo Calvo, that called for the strike (after a massive town hall meeting) and that was also the one that decided to lift it, but “without ceasing to be alert and vigilant” until the Census Law is approved that guarantees that in 2024 there will be redistribution of resources to the regions and also redistribution of seats for the next elections.

On the back of the 50-year-old doctor and the people behind this historical demand of a region and a country, was to confront the Government, and in the case of Calvo, they have meant 27 legal proceedings against himbut also the positioning of the demand for Santa Cruz in the political agenda of Bolivia.

EL DEBER spoke with the civic leader who will fulfill his term until the beginning of 2023, in an interview away from the so-called ‘current’ issues, to get to know the doctor from another perspective.

1.- Since you were at the head of the Committee for Santa Cruz, you have been the target of lawsuits and lawsuits until you ended up locked up in your house with house arrest. Do you regret the role of civic leader?

The truth that I do not regret, it is a conviction that as citizens someone has to do it at some point, today it has touched me. All this struggle has changed my family life, as well as my profession, but always with the hope of leaving a better and different future for my children, with a full democracy.

2.- What is the human cost, at the family level, loved ones and friends?

The first It has been the one that puts my profession into question, after practicing 17 years as a surgeon and proctologist within the Caja Petrolera, having lost my sources of employment, being persecuted in several hospitals and private centers, which in some way persecute us with inspections where I work and that in the end these complications try to nullify one as a professional.

Not being able to see my parents, my family, not being able to share with my children for a long time Y Not having a full social life. Not knowing when someone may appear in whatever way, sometimes ordered, paid, and not having peace of mind at home due to the constant threats of a Government and judiciary that always alter your freedom.

Every day that dawns you have to lament because we do not have a balanced justice, every night there can be a different event.

3.- Is it true that it is also the target of National Taxes?

After they fired me (Caja Petrolera), National Taxes began a persecution against me that led me to resign from private clinics where I worked and to close my office.

I have several payment plansthere is a person who is in charge of running me around with this persecution constantly.

4.- When was your last day of work as a doctor?

In the Caja de Caminos they fired me the first day when I took office as president of the Civic Committee, that was in the territory of people from the Government. And it was at the end of February (2022) when they separated me from the Caja Petrolera, after so many unfounded legal processes and they did not give me my memorandum.

All this causes some pain, because one gave his ability, effort and ignorant and incapable politicians such as (Rolando) Cuéllar and Hernán Hinojosa, call into question the effort and work of a person who was at the service of an institution. Being a doctor is not an easy career, because you don’t play with a person’s life.

5. Without working, how are you supporting yourself financially?

I haven’t been able to generate in the private area for two monthsLocked up here is increasingly difficult because one has expenses such as water, electricity, telephone, school and food. I have been deprived of my freedom for 10 months, of course the same family, neighbors, colleagues and friends who seek to help one are watching over me.

6.- In the last days of the strike, it was said that you had health problems, what were these?

I had renal colicIt seems that from so much stress, because I had to make strong decisions, there were people in the streets, it was a great effort. Now I’m better, it’s not a chronic disease, I have to rest.

7.- Within 10 days the call for the new board of the Committee for Santa Cruz will be launched. Will you be a candidate again?

I cannot be a candidate according to the statutes.

8.- What do you say to your successor?

There are people who has forged a good path and civic leadership. I have not thought about it (what to say to his successor) because I have a mission that has not been completed, which is to end this conflict, you have to live one day at a time.

9.- A new objective is coming, you spoke of charting the path towards a new relationship between Santa Cruz and the Bolivian State, will you be able to finish that work from your civic role?

It is a task that will remain pending, but I will be constantly accompanying, a very difficult task, ideal, a mission that I have deep inside, but we must continue with this work. That hope has to bear fruit, so that in a short time we can give Santa Cruz the new direction of the Santa Cruz agenda.

10.- What did you think and feel when your home was vandalized due to dissatisfaction that the strike was lifted?

We understood that it was a difficult decision to lift the strike, but on the other hand, it was getting out of hand by these people who were turning the demand into anarchy among citizens because there were people infiltrating it.

Regarding the relatives who came to my home (of those detained during the days of unemployment), one understands them, for having a person who is unjustly detained, I am also one of the victims. At no time have we abandoned them and we will continue to fight for them. It is in the hands of bad judges who are not assessing the damage to that youth.