Protesters demand that authorities allow Evo Morales to register as a candidate for the presidential elections.

On Wednesday, Bolivian President Luis Arce confirmed the deaths of three police officers during an operation to clear roadblocks set up by supporters of former President Evo Morales (2006–2019).

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In a statement to the media near midnight, Arce expressed condolences for the deaths of Second Lieutenants Carlos Apata and Brayan Barrozo, and Sergeant Jesus Mamani. They were part of a police operation aiming to reach the municipality of Llallagua, in northern Potosi, where on Tuesday protesters had prevented local residents from dismantling roadblocks.

“We are deeply saddened and outraged by the violence that has erupted in Llallagua,” Arce said, adding that military and police operations to clear all roadblocks would continue.

Morales’ supporters are demanding that authorities allow the leftist leader to register as a candidate for the Aug. 17 presidential elections. To pressure the government, they have maintained roadblocks in the departments of Cochabamba, Potosi, and Oruro.

The Text Reads, “Bolivian President Luis Arce confirmed the death of a third policeman who was part of a group that was going to unlock a road in the Llallagua municipality in the Potosi department.”

“We will not allow victory for those who oppose elections, for those who reject democracy, for those who do not care about the country,” President Arce said.

He also reaffirmed that he will not resign and vowed to use “all powers constitutionally granted” to him by law to “bring calm to the Bolivian people.”

According to the Arce administration, the police officers were ambushed on the road to Llallagua by citizens who had positioned themselves in surrounding hills and hurled stones and dynamite at them. Authorities also claimed that protesters attacked the officers with firearms.

The deaths of the officers drew widespread condemnation from opposition politicians and presidential candidates, who blamed Morales for the violence.

On Wednesday morning, Arce ordered police to clear the blockades and expressed regret that the operation had led to “acts of vandalism” aimed at “overthrowing the national government” and imposing Morales’ candidacy, which Arce described as “unconstitutional.”

The text reads, “Two police officers die in clashes with Evo Morales’ followers who block roads in Bolivia.”

For his part, Morales said Bolivia is experiencing a “criminalization of protest” and warned that the crackdown on roadblocks would spark “greater rebellion and greater uprising against the government.”

Besides demanding that Morales be allowed to run again, citizens have blocked roads since June 2 to call for Arce’s resignation, holding him responsible for the country’s ongoing economic crisis.

Morales insists on running for president despite lacking a political party and despite a recent Constitutional Court ruling reaffirming that reelection in Bolivia is permitted only once consecutively—making a third term unconstitutional. Morales has already served three terms.

The Attorney General’s Office is investigating Morales and some of his close allies on eight charges, including terrorism and obstruction of electoral processes, following a complaint filed by the Arce administration.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

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