Bolivia: Violent Pro-Coup Extremists Assault MAS Canvassers
The socialist party leads pre-election voter intention surveys but faces violence promoted by right-wing candidates and de facto authorities.
Bolivian coup supporters waged an attack on Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) canvassers, setting fire to campaign tents and destroying materials.
Videos circulating on social media show what appears to be people in MAS t-shirts being chased down in the area of the “4 de Noviembre plaza” in Cochabamba, while posters and other materials were taken down.
Speaking to local news networks, MAS members said they were campaigning for the party’s Arce-Choquehuanca ticket and local candidates in the plaza, when members of the Resistencia Juvenil Cochala (RJC) appeared and began setting off firecrackers and tear gas, while others were chased, grabbed and beaten.
The attacks have been denounced by front runner and socialist presidential MAS candidate, Luis Arce, who demanded respect for the right to carry out peaceful electoral campaign activities.
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Repudiamos los ataques violentos que hoy sufrió nuestra militancia en la ciudad de #Cochabamba. Exigimos respeto a nuestro derecho de realizar con libertad actividades pacíficas de campaña electoral. ¡Basta de dictadura! #RecuperaremosLaDemocracia pic.twitter.com/35tm99Ra39
— Luis Alberto Arce Catacora (Lucho Arce) (@LuchoXBolivia) September 19, 2020
Former President Evo Morales also denounced the attacks on social media: ”We hold the coup leaders responsible for the attacks by members of the Cochala Youth Resistance against MAS militants who were campaigning in #Cochabamba. The danger of violence, racism and separatism must not return to the country.”
According to Los Tiempos newspaper, the leader of Resistencia Juvenil Cochala (RJC), Yassir Molina claims that his group was not the authors of the eviction of the campaigners from the plaza, and said they already have eight legal proceedings active.
Resistencia Juvenil Cochala extremists burned MAS campaign tents and attacked members at the 4 de Noviembre Plaza in Cochabamba. The attacks have been denounced by @LuchoXBolivia who demanded respect for the right to carry out peaceful electoral campaign activities. pic.twitter.com/c58Udm710S
— Kawsachun News (@KawsachunNews) September 19, 2020
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In August, armed shock groups were allowed to wage attacks on anti-coup demonstrations in which broad sectors had mobilized in defense of democratic elections around the country.
The coup regime-linked groups showed up at road blockades to try to impede the right to protest, using violent tactics as police looked on without intervening.
Coup leader and presidential candidate Fernando Camacho (according to polls on third place) at the time issued an ‘open letter’ to senator-turned-regime-leader Jeanine Añez, threatening to mobilize violent extremist groups against leftists if the regime failed to crush the protests.
Bolivia's "Comité Cívicos" were the foot soldiers of the US-backed coup. Who are these groups? Who do they represent?
From our mini-documentary "The Paramilitaries Of The Coup". Watch here: https://t.co/ciDhWYwzqI pic.twitter.com/ILIHhStVH0
— Kawsachun News (@KawsachunNews) September 19, 2020
On September 17, Bolivia’s Ombudsman released a 300+ page report on events which occurred following the October 20, 2019 general election, stated that ‘parastatal groups’ were formed and implemented under the de facto regime, assuming “internal security functions of exclusive competence of the Bolivian Police, under the permissibility of this institution.”
Given the long list of violations detailed in this Ombudsman report it is unclear to what extent free elections can be held if one party, the Movement Towards Socialism, cannot express itself freely under the violence promoted by the de facto authorities and the right-wing candidates Carlos Mesa and Fernando Camacho.
Featured image: A MAS campaign tent is burned in Cochabamba. September 19, 2020. | Photo: Twitter / @abi_bolivia
