AMERICA/BOLIVIA - Call of the Bishops to the government to abandon revenge and political persecution

Tuesday, 16 March 2021 human rights social situation politics episcopal conferences

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La Paz (Agenzia Fides) - The Archbishop of Santa Cruz, Mgr. Sergio Gualberti, deplored the latest actions of the government within the context of the alleged "coup d'etat" and asked to "act according to the truth". "There is a tendency to label people and their representatives who defended the citizens' vote and democracy, as conspirators of a coup, while the perpetrators of the fraud are presented as victims. Democracy requires respect for human rights", the Archbishop said emphatically during his homily last Sunday. Subsequently, he called on the authorities to "strengthen democratic institutions and respect the dignity and rights of every person, to preserve the health and life of citizens and to build a reconciled, united and peaceful country on the basis of justice and the common good".
Important events have taken place in Bolivia in recent days. Former Acting President Jeanine Áñez was arrested late in the night on March 12, on the basis of an arrest warrant issued by the Office of the Prosecutor against her and several of her ministers for sedition and terrorism, charges related to an alleged coup against former President Evo Morales. Two of her former ministers had already been arrested previously.
A few minutes after the announcement of her arrest, the former interim president wrote on his Twitter account that "in the face of Bolivia and the world, by an act of abuse (of power) and political persecution" the government of the Movement for Socialism "ordered the arrest". "I am accused of having participated in a coup that never took place. My prayers go out to Bolivia and to all Bolivians", said Jeanine Áñez.
The Episcopal Conference of Bolivia (CEB) has urged the government to abandon "total control of power, revenge and persecution", referring to arrests carried out as part of the investigation into acts of violence leading to the resignation of President Evo Morales, in 2019.
Mgr. Centellas, president of the CEB, asked, in the respect of a fair trial, an integral part of the fundamental rights recognized at the international level, the immediate release of the detainees. "We cannot remain silent in the face of growing political persecution, which brings back memories of sad moments in history, creates neither confidence, nor peace, nor reconciliation among all Bolivians", he said.
In the meantime, calls are spreading on social media to demonstrate on the street in the main cities of the country: La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz and Sucre. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 16/3/2021)