Bolivia's Silent Genocide: Who Is Being Targeted?

In 2019, Bolivia's first indigenous president, Evo Morales, resigned amid unrest over his disputed re-election. Morales fled to Mexico, and right-wing senator Jeanine Anez declared herself interim president. This triggered protests by Morales supporters, which resulted in violent clashes with security forces. At least 32 people were killed, with the deadliest clashes occurring in the central city of Cochabamba, where nine people died. Morales called for international help, describing the violence as a genocide and showing graphic scenes of dead and wounded protesters. Anez was later charged with genocide against Morales supporters and staging a coup.

Evo Morales calls for international help

Former Bolivian President Evo Morales has called for international intervention to stop what he describes as a "genocide" in Bolivia. In a press conference held in Mexico City on November 20, 2019, Morales urged the international community to intervene and stop the violence that had erupted in Bolivia following his disputed re-election, claiming that 32 people had died. Morales, the country's first indigenous president, called the situation a "massacre" and appealed to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and the UN to "condemn and stop this massacre of my indigenous brothers, who are simply asking for peace, democracy, and respect for human life."

Morales, a leftist leader, showed graphic footage of dead and wounded protesters during the press conference and condemned the "brutal repression" by the military. He also reiterated that he still considered himself the legitimate president of Bolivia, claiming that he had been forced to resign due to pressure from the army, which amounted to a "coup."

The violence in Bolivia began after the disputed election on October 20, 2019, in which Morales was declared the winner, triggering protests by opposition supporters. The situation escalated when right-wing senator Jeanine Anez declared herself interim president on November 12, leading to further unrest. According to the IACHR, at least 32 people have been killed in the violence since the election, with the deadliest clashes occurring in the central city of Cochabamba, where nine people were killed in a confrontation between Morales supporters and security forces.

Morales, who fled to Mexico after resigning, denied any wrongdoing and attributed the unrest to his efforts to lead a pro-poor, pro-indigenous government and nationalize the country's gas and natural resources. He expressed sadness over the destruction of the country's economic progress during his tenure and claimed that some people could not accept an indigenous person in power.

The situation in Bolivia has raised concerns among international organizations and human rights groups, with the IACHR calling for an end to the violence and for the protection of human rights. Morales's calls for international intervention highlight the urgency of the situation and the need for a peaceful resolution to the political crisis in Bolivia.

Update:

As of October 2020, charges of sedition and terrorism against Morales have been dropped, and the arrest warrant dismissed. A court in La Paz found that Morales' rights had been violated and that judicial procedures had been breached. This decision allowed Morales to return to Bolivia in November 2020, after 11 months in exile. However, his influence within the Movement for Socialism (MAS) appears to have declined, with MAS officials selecting candidates for the 2021 regional elections without his input. Protests in El Alto and other areas expressed disagreement with decisions made in meetings chaired by Morales, indicating a shift in his level of support.

32 people killed in post-election violence

In 2019, Bolivia's first indigenous president, Evo Morales, resigned amid mounting unrest sparked by his disputed re-election to a controversial fourth term. Morales urged the international community to intervene to stop what he called a "genocide" in Bolivia, where 32 people had died in violence that erupted after the election.

The deadliest clashes occurred in the central city of Cochabamba, where nine people were killed in a confrontation between Morales supporters and security forces. Eight others were killed in clashes between security forces and protesters around a fuel plant near La Paz.

The violence intensified after right-wing senator Jeanine Anez declared herself interim president, triggering protests by Morales supporters. Anez's government came under fire for a law giving the military broad discretion in the use of force. At least 30 people were killed in protests after she took office, most of whom were supporters of Morales's Movement for Socialism (MAS) party and civilians.

The MAS socialist party resumed control of the presidency when its candidate, Luis Arce, won the election in November 2020. However, the country continued to face human rights issues, including credible reports of torture, harsh prison conditions, arbitrary arrests, restrictions on freedom of expression, and gender-based violence.

The 2019 post-election violence in Bolivia resulted in the deaths of 32 people and contributed to the political unrest and instability in the country. The clashes between Morales supporters and security forces, as well as the protests against the interim government, highlight the deep political divisions within the country.

Morales denounces brutal repression by the military

Former Bolivian President Evo Morales has denounced the brutal repression and "genocide" carried out by the military and security forces in the country following his disputed re-election and subsequent resignation in 2019. Morales, the country's first indigenous president, fled to Mexico after facing mounting unrest and pressure from the army, which he characterised as a "coup".

The 2019 Bolivian Political Crisis

Morales, who still considers himself the legitimate president of Bolivia, has urged the international community to intervene and stop the "genocide" that has unfolded in the country. At least 32 people have been killed in the violence that erupted after the disputed election on October 20, 2019, with the deadliest clashes occurring in the central city of Cochabamba, where nine people were killed.

The Role of the Military

The military and security forces have been accused of using excessive force and opening fire on demonstrators, resulting in massacres such as the one in Cochabamba on November 15, 2019, where five people were killed and over 100 were wounded. The regime, led by self-proclaimed president Senator Jeanine Áñez, has been criticised for burning the Wiphala, the flag of the Indigenous nations of Bolivia, and for decreeing an exemption from prosecution for the police and military's use of lethal force against protesters.

International Reactions

31 US organisations have condemned the civic-military coup and the brutal repression unleashed by the police and military, calling for an immediate investigation by the UN into the killings and wounding of protesters. They have also urged the US Congress and the Organization of American States (OAS) to condemn the coup and support dialogue over confrontation. Additionally, Morales has called on the IACHR (Inter-American Commission on Human Rights) and the UN to condemn and intervene to stop the "massacre" of indigenous Bolivians.

The Path Forward

Morales' MAS socialist party has since resumed control of the presidency, with their candidate Luis Arce winning the elections in November 2020. The Bolivian Congress, controlled by the MAS, has approved a report recommending a lawsuit against former president Jeanine Áñez for genocide and other alleged crimes committed during her time in office.

Interim President Jeanine Anez faces genocide charges

Bolivia's first indigenous president, Evo Morales, resigned in October 2019 amid mounting unrest sparked by his controversial re-election to a fourth term. Morales fled to Mexico, citing fears for his life.

Right-wing senator Jeanine Anez, the most senior member of the country's parliament, then declared herself interim president. This triggered protests by Morales supporters, which resulted in at least 32 deaths.

Anez's government was criticised for a law giving the military broad discretion in the use of force. At least 30 people were killed in protests after she took office, most of whom were supporters of Morales' Movement for Socialism (MAS) party and civilians.

In March 2021, Anez was arrested on accusations of leading a coup against Morales and terrorism. She has been in detention ever since.

In August 2021, Bolivia charged Anez with "genocide" against supporters of Morales and staging a coup. Attorney-General Juan Lanchipa said the charges were "provisionally classified as genocide, serious and minor injury, and injury followed by death" during protests in the Bolivian towns of Sacaba and Senkata.

Anez faces a long list of charges after the protest deaths. The move follows a report from the Organization of American States (OAS), which claimed that Bolivian security forces carried out a massacre when Anez took over.

MAS candidate Luis Arce wins election in 2020

In 2019, Bolivia's first indigenous president, Evo Morales, was overthrown in a police-military coup. The coup installed a far-right government, forcing Morales to flee the country and seek asylum in Mexico and later Argentina. Morales's ousting came after his disputed re-election, with allegations of election rigging. Morales denied any wrongdoing and claimed he was being persecuted for leading a pro-poor and pro-indigenous government.

In 2020, Luis Arce, the MAS candidate and ally of Evo Morales, won the presidential election in Bolivia. Arce won with an outright majority of 55% of the vote, defeating his closest rival, Carlos Mesa, by more than 25 points. This margin of victory negated the need for a runoff. Arce's victory marked a return of the MAS to power, as he was the candidate of Morales's party, Movement toward Socialism (MAS). The MAS victory was considered a stunning political turnaround, as the party had faced a campaign of repression following Morales's ouster.

Arce's win was celebrated across Bolivia, and he was inaugurated in a triumphal ceremony on November 8, 2020. Morales returned to the country the following day. Arce's victory sent a message of hope across the globe, demonstrating the people of Bolivia's commitment to a peaceful revolution and their rejection of neoliberal policies.

The MAS government faces several challenges, including a declining economic model, ecological concerns, and social and ideological divisions. However, Arce's victory is a testament to the resilience and democratic values of the Bolivian people, who have endured a brutal interim government and patiently waited for a return to stability and prosperity.

While the official tally of the 2020 election was still being finalised, exit polls indicated an overwhelming victory for Arce and the MAS. Arce's victory was made more significant by the fact that the opposition to MAS was divided between four candidates, including Carlos Mesa, a right-leaning historian, and Jeanine Áñez, the head of the right-wing coup government. Despite the challenges and a brutal interim government, the Bolivian people demonstrated their commitment to democracy and their support for the MAS party.

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