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Bolivian President Evo Morales lashed out Thursday against the Chilean government for upholding a constitution created under the bloody Pinochet regime, just days before he flies to The Hague to defend Bolivia’s sovereign right to access the sea.
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In a tweet published Friday, the Bolivian president wrote, “Living in a democracy in the 21st century is not governing with Augusto Pinochet’s constitution.”
The current Chilean Constitution was ratified on Sept. 11, 1980, under the dictatorship of Chilean President Augusto Pinochet, a military general officially described as “the most violent and criminal ruler" in Chile's history.
Under Pinochet’s rule, over 3,000 people were murdered and thousands more were disappeared and tortured.
The comments come as Morales prepares to represent Bolivia’s case to access the Pacific Ocean at the International Court Justice, ICJ.
In 1879, Chile invaded Bolivian territory, starting a long battle that stripped Bolivia of 400 km of its coast.
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Since losing territorial control, Bolivia became the second landlocked country in South America, forcing the country to rely on roadway infrastructure for commercial transportation.
In 2013, Morales filed a maritime claim with the ICJ demanding Chile renegotiate its border with Bolivia on the grounds that Chile has not kept up with certain “unilateral promises” according to a treaty signed in 1904.
The ICJ agreed to hear the dispute in Sept. 2015, stirring tensions between the two South American countries.
In the lead up to the landmark case, Morales attacked its neighbor for failing to respect international norms.
“Aggression is: invading neighboring countries, stealing water, ignoring international law and reneging on commitments,” he posted on Twitter.
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