October 18, 2024, 4:01 AM
October 18, 2024, 4:01 AM
Evo Morales reappeared yesterday and conditioned lifting blockades in exchange for the repeal of five decrees. Furthermore, the former president stated that the criminal proceedings against him are a “lie” to disqualify him as a presidential candidate. The Minister of Government, Eduardo Del Castillo, urged the coca leader to prove his innocence in the accusations of aggravated rape. and human trafficking and smuggling by undergoing DNA testing.
Yesterday it was learned that the alleged victim of the former president was not found in the municipality of Yacuiba, in Tarija, and that there is a process of disappearance of the young woman and the alleged daughter of the coca grower leader. The Tarija Police confirmed that both people, along with the victim’s mother, are missing.
The coca leader was interviewed yesterday by Panamericana and Kawsachun Coca radio stations. In this last medium, Morales said that he asked to speak on this date because 21 years ago Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada resigned from the Presidency of the country and left the country for the United States.
Meanwhile, in the interview with Panamericana, The former head of state stated that the important thing at this juncture is that President Luis Arce responds to the request list sent in a letter by the “People’s General Staff” and to repeal at least five supreme decrees to immediately lift the blockade points, which for now are centered in the department of Cochabamba.
It would be important that considering the document that repeals the supreme decrees that are in the hands of the president, That is a political decision. Hopefully this weekend Lucho will have the will to repeal these decrees and enact this law to guarantee greater investment and greater economic movement,” stated the leader of the coca growers.
Morales said that some demands may be exaggerated, but the request from the social sectors is ‘evident’ is sincere about repealing decrees that “do a lot of damage to the economy, to poor families, to the transporter, to the small producer and to the homeowner.”
Furthermore, he said that Arce does not need any legislation and reiterated that the first thing he has to do with is the economic issue, since political demands remain in the background. in reference to his insistent request to go to the Presidency and that the Lauca Ñ congress be recognized.
In this regard, Former minister Juan Ramón Quintana assured yesterday that “blockades feed on blood” and said that these mobilizations will grow according to the number of Morales supporters in various parts of the country.
DNA tests
Meanwhile, Minister Del Castillo urged the former president to prove his innocence in the accusations of aggravated statutory rape and human trafficking and smuggling by submitting to DNA tests.
“If they report me for an act of rape, I would immediately ask for a blood and DNA sample to be taken to prove my innocence. That is what Mr. (Evo) Morales should do,” declared Del Castillo.
The minister stressed that, until yesterday afternoon, the Bolivian Police had not received any arrest warrant against Morales and criticized the former president for continuing to promote blockades on the country’s roads. Del Castillo urged the coca leader to focus on his judicial processes and leave aside social conflicts that, in his opinion, only generate greater tension and harm.
Yesterday, the coca grower leader said that the proceedings against him for statutory rape and human trafficking are a “lie” and that it is a judicial persecution against him to disqualify him. “The political issue, I hope you accept, can be reviewed and we submit to primaries,” he stated.
José Luis Zenteno, director of the Special Force to Fight Crime (Felcc) in Tarija, reported that the alleged victim, the mother and the baby have not been able to be located in the municipality of Yacuiba. During a press conference, a journalist asked if the mother and daughter are missing and the police chief responded: “Yes, that’s right, we are making a poster to be able to locate the mother, who is actually now the victim, (that is to say) the mother of the girl who is now being searched for.”
Yesterday an audio was released in which the alleged victim reports that the Police tried to “kidnap” her in Yacuiba along with her daughter. She blamed Luis Arce and Minister Del Castillo for persecuting her for “political purposes.” The young woman declared herself underground.
Towards Argentina
The Special Force to Fight Crime (Felcc) of Tarija does not rule out that the alleged victim, the mother and the alleged daughter of Morales have crossed into Argentine territory due to its geographical proximity to the city of Yacuiba.
The investigation
According to the complaint, the young woman, when she was 15 years old, was allegedly impregnated by former President Evo Morales and then gave birth to a girl. Now, the young woman’s father is imprisoned and the mother is classified as a fugitive.
