Bolivia?s Morales accuses government of assaniation attempt
28/10/2024 5:57
Bolivia's former leader Evo
Morales accused the government of his one-time ally Luis Arce of
trying to kill him on Sunday after his car was struck by bullets
in an early-morning ambush, threatening to ignite a full-on
political crisis in the Andean nation.
Morales, whose supporters have been organizing road
blockades for weeks to support the legally embattled former
president, posted a video on Facebook that shows him in the
front passenger seat and bullet holes in the car's windshield.
"Elite agents of the Bolivian State attempted to take my
life today," Morales wrote on social media.
Arce in comments on social media condemned any use of
violence in politics and called for an immediate and thorough
investigation.
Earlier on Sunday, Arce's deputy security minister promised
an investigation into any report "whether it is true or a lie."
The incident occurred with Bolivia already gripped by
tensions. Morales supporters have blocked key highways for two
weeks, impeding delivery of food and fuel around the country,
and clashed with security forces trying to clear the obstacles.
Arce's government on Saturday accused Morales of
"destabilizing" the country and trying to "interrupt democratic
order."
Morales' claims drew statements of support on Sunday from
regional leftist allies, including Venezuelan President Nicolas
Maduro's foreign minister and former Argentine President
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.
AN ALLEGED AMBUSH
A statement from a Morales-aligned bloc of the socialist MAS
political party, itself split with loyalties divided between
Morales and Arce, said that his convoy was ambushed near a
military barracks by two vehicles with heavily armed men dressed
in black.
Video shared with Reuters showed a frantic chase, during
which Morales switched cars and his driver was injured.
Reuters could not independently verify the contents of the
video or the claims made by Morales and his allies.
A spokesperson for Morales said the former president would
hold a press conference later on Sunday and "present evidence
connecting the government as the author in the attempt to
assassinate Evo Morales."
In a radio interview after the incident, Morales said two
vehicles intercepted him on the road and fired upon his car,
adding that a bullet passed "centimeters" from his head. The MAS
statement said a bullet hit the arm of the second vehicle's
driver and another grazed his head.
"If Luis Arce did not give the order for this attempted
murder, he should immediately dismiss and prosecute Eduardo del
Castillo and Edmundo Novillo, (Arce's) government and defense
ministers, along with all the police officers who participated,"
Morales later wrote on social media.
Bolivia's Deputy Security Minister Roberto Rios told
journalists that police had not carried out any operation
against Morales.
FLARING TENSIONS
Morales, who served three terms as president, resigned in
2019 after a disputed election plunged the country into turmoil.
Arce, his former economy minister, was elected the following
year.
Arce is expected to run for reelection in 2025. Morales also
has said he wants to be a candidate next year, splitting the
once-hegemonic MAS party into opposing camps that support the
current and former presidents.
The statement from the Morales-aligned MAS faction called
the attack "evidence that we are facing a fascist government"
and said the assailants were seen entering the military barracks
and subsequently boarding a helicopter waiting on the airstrip.
Ahead of next year's elections, Bolivia is grappling with
dwindling natural gas production, drained foreign currency
reserves and rising inflation, which is increasing pressure on
the ruling party and leading to increasingly messy political
infighting.
Morales is also facing allegations that he had relationships
with minors. He was formally summoned by regional prosecutors to
testify in the case but did not appear, and now faces an arrest
warrant. Morales has denied the accusations.
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