▲ Indigenous supporters of former Bolivian President Evo Morales block a road during a protest in Huarina, Bolivia.Afp Photo
AFP, Sputnik and Xinhua
The newspaper La Jornada
Tuesday, September 17, 2024, p. 26
La Paz., Bolivian indigenous people, supporters of former President Evo Morales, blocked yesterday the road to Lake Titicaca, at the beginning of a week of protests against President Luis Arce, who said that with this measure they seek to give him a coup d’état.
Peasant organizations and other unions in the Bolivian department of La Paz began closing roads that link the seat of government with the rest of the country, to protest against rising food prices, fuel and dollar shortages, on the eve of marches called by former ruler Evo Morales (2006-2019).
David Mamani, leader of the blockades, explained that the protest seeks Luis Arce Catacora should resign (for being) incapable, ineffective, incompetent, corrupt, and embezzler of our economic resourcesin addition, for that new elections be called presidential elections, scheduled for August 2025, Mamani said in the town of Huarina, 77 kilometers west of La Paz.
We are blocking the most important roads from El Alto to the municipality of Copacabana, to the municipality of Desaguadero, which is an international route, to the city of Oruro, another international route. All roads are blocked.the peasant leader explained to the local press.
On September 3, we presented a list of economic demands and respect for the Movement for Socialism (MAS), the deadline was the 15th. Since there was no call for dialogue, the mobilization is underway.Morales said at a press conference in which he showed the support of some social organizations of miners and farmers.
Arce accused Morales the day before yesterday of attempt a coup d’état with marches and roadblocks that the coca grower leader called for to demand solutions to the fuel shortage.
A march will begin in the next few days, which will then lead to a national road blockade that will end with a coup against a popular government and it is something that you will have to inform our people about sooner or later.he said in a speech before the main leaders of social organizations.
Arce stated: I will not run away if you want to solve a problem you have with me because I did not accept being your puppet. Let us solve this problem by assuming the rules of democracy, do not drag the people into confrontation and death for your whims and ambitions for power..