October 29, 2024, 18:04 PM
October 29, 2024, 18:04 PM
At least three journalists and 14 police officers were attacked and detained for several hours this Tuesday by followers of former Bolivian president Evo Morales (2006-2019) during a road unblocking operation in a rural town in the eastern region of Santa Cruz.
The incident occurred when a police contingent was trying to clear the route that connects Santa Cruz with the central department of Cochabamba and regain control of a unit, which the day before had been taken by those loyal to Morales.
The road blockades are a measure of pressure that the former president’s followers maintain to defend their leader from what they consider to be “political persecution” due to an investigation into human trafficking and statutory rape for the alleged rape of a minor when oral He was president.
The journalist from the private channel Red Uno Rómer Saucedo reported that the arrest occurred after the Police cleared the road and when it seemed that the situation was under control. group of people “overtook” the agents leaving the reporters at the mercy of the protesters.
“We were left alone and they threw stones, shovels, and detonated sticks of dynamite, stones (directed) at one’s humanity,” Saucedo told the media.
“They hit me with sticks and stones. They wanted to burn us. They said that we were sold press, we explained to them that we were not to blame, that this was our job, they took our camera away,” said cameraman Ricardo Pedraza.
The journalists managed to escape hours after the attack by almost a hundred angry people and with the help of some residents ceased.
The attacked police officers and journalists were transported and treated in the nearby town of Samaipata.
A resident declared to the media, including EFE, that the protesters They “handcuffed” the police officers, took away their riot gear and then beat them and held them as “hostages.”
This person, who managed to hide part of the riot equipment of the attacked police officers and handed it to an agent, stated that the protesters “are not” from Mairana.
The Ombudsman’s Office said in a statement that it intervened to reach an “agreement” with which “those mobilized released the police officers.”
Repudiation of the press unions
The president of the National Association of Journalists of Bolivia (ANPB), Zulema Alanes, said that the events in Mairana “are a reflection of the extreme violence that the blockersled by former President Evo Morales, are sowing in the country.”
“This situation is uncontrollable, We demand guarantees and protection for journalists,” he added.
The National Press Association (ANP), which brings together the owners of the main Bolivian newspapers, He asked for “respect” for the life and work of journalists and stressed that their work “is unrelated to political conflict.” between the Government of Luis Arce and the official sector loyal to Morales.
“We want to strongly condemn this violence, we are not talking about a protest but rather criminal acts that cannot be tolerated,” said Vice Minister of Communication, Gabriela Alcón.
On this day they fulfill 16 days of road blockade that the followers of the former president maintain to ask the Arce Government to withdraw the judicial proceedings against Morales.
They also ask the Government for solutions to the country’s economic situation marked by the shortage of foreign currency, fuel and inflation, They also demand that the congress of the ruling Movement for Socialism (MAS) be respected, which last year proclaimed Morales as the “sole candidate” for next year’s presidential elections.
The state-run Bolivian Highway Administrator (ABC) reported that there are 24 areas with road blocks, the majority in the central department of Cochabamba, while the Government, businessmen and producers denounce million-dollar losses due to this measure.
