LA PAZ/SANTA CRUZ, VOLVIA (Reuters) – Bolivians across the country attended the opposition-led National Assembly on Wednesday to discuss a number of proposals, Governor Luis Camacho said.
Weeks of protests erupted after Camacho, a longtime opponent of La Paz’s left-wing federal government, was arrested for his alleged role in the 2019 riots that saw President Evo Morales flee the country.
Protests were suspended last week before Congress where many across the country called for judicial reform and the release of political prisoners.
Camacho’s stronghold in Santa Cruz, a relatively wealthy agricultural outpost, made one of its most radical speeches, with civic leader Romulo Calvo proposing a “massacre” by the government and a local security force. I claimed.
Late Wednesday, police in Santa Cruz used tear gas on protesters who threw firecrackers at police stationed near the rally site.
Santa Cruz parliament calls for passage of amnesty law within 30 days, release of Camacho and other political prisoners, and calls on opposition to form a single political party in 2025 to oppose ruling MAS party rice field.
In the town of Potosi, which has long been loyal to the MAS, the town council called for the release of local politician Marco Pumari and offered up to 20% of the capital to the development of the country’s abundant and largely untapped lithium reserves. Requested a fee guarantee.
President Luis Arce has previously won the support of miners at a large rally in the south of the country, criticizing their right to teach democratic lessons.
Luis Camacho remains in pretrial detention despite being appealed to house arrest and has made several appearances in court in recent days.
Prosecutors have charged Camacho, then a civic leader in Santa Cruz, with creating the “power vacuum” behind former president Morales’ resignation. Camacho denies the accusations.
Morales declared victory in a controversial election that would have given him a fourth straight term, but the election was overseen by allegations of fraud, sparking protests leading to his resignation .
Right-wing leader Senate Vice President Janine Annes was sworn in as interim president and led the country until Morales’ ally Luis Arce won the 2020 elections.
The left-wing government has since prosecuted opposition leaders in what it calls a “coup”. Anez was sentenced to 10 years in prison last year.
“Political prisoners can have fair justice,” she wrote in a letter read by her daughter at a rally in La Paz. We will work together for justice, democracy and freedom.”
Reporting by Santiago Limachi from La Paz, Sergio Limachi, Monica Machicao, Daniel Ramos and Juan Pablo Blacat from Santa Cruz. Written by Kylie Madley and Sarah Morland. Editing by Chris Reese and Christian Schmollinger
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