Bolivian military says won't 'confront' the people as pressure on Morales builds

[rooster59]

Bolivian military says won't 'confront' the people as pressure on Morales builds

By Daniel Ramos

 

Police officers hang Bolivian flags at an entrance to the Police Operations Tactical Unit headquarters in La Paz, Bolivia, November 9, 2019. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez

 

LA PAZ (Reuters) - Bolivian President Evo Morales denounced the actions of "violent groups" early on Saturday, hours after police forces were seen joining scattered protests, but the military weighed in later saying it would not "confront the people" in a standoff over a disputed election.

 

Morales, Latin America's longest-standing leader, won the election on Oct. 20 but a delay of nearly a day in the vote count has sparked allegations of fraud and led to protests, strikes and road blocks.

 

On Friday night, local television showed police in several Bolivian cities marching alongside protesters in apparent acts of disobedience and joining chants regularly used by the opposition.

 

Adding to the pressure on Morales, the Armed Forces said in a statement on Saturday "that we will never confront the people to whom we have a duty and we will always ensure peace, coexistence and the development of our homeland."

 

In a tweet in the early hours of Saturday, Morales repeated accusations that "violent groups" were launching a coup against the state. The foreign ministry released a statement saying some police officers had "abandoned their constitutional role of ensuring the security of society and state institutions".

 

At a news conference later in the day, Morales called an urgent meeting with the four political parties represented in parliament. By Saturday afternoon, at least two opposition parties had rejected Morales' invitation and one had accepted.

 

Morales said he would also invite international organizations including the Vatican, the United Nations and the Organisation of American States (OAS), which is conducting an audit of the October vote.

 

Luis Fernando Camacho, a civic leader from the eastern city of Santa Cruz who has become a symbol of the opposition, and Carlos Mesa, the runner-up in October, reiterated their calls for Morales - the country's leader since 2006 - to step down.

 

"What we want here is to unite all Bolivians in a single cause. We want President Evo Morales to leave," Camacho told a news conference.

 

Camacho plans to lead a march to the government palace on Monday with a symbolic resignation letter for Morales to sign.

 

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro tweeted his support for Morales on Saturday.

 

"We denounce before the world the attempted coup d'etat in progress against the brother President Evo Morales," said Maduro, who has been accused of corruption and human rights violations.

 

(Reporting by Daniel Ramos; Writing by Cassandra Garrison; Editing by Frances Kerry, Andrea Ricci and Sonya Hepinstall)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-11-10

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[Geoffggi]

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Morales, Latin America's longest-standing leader, won the election on Oct. 20 but a delay of nearly a day in the vote count has sparked allegations of fraud and led to protests, strikes and road blocks.

Ha ha ha!!!! Good thing these people were not in Thailand for the vote count....LOL

[Nigel Garvie]

4 hours ago, rhyddid said:

US interference using their puppet to make another Bolsonaro, Gauido or Pinera (Chile),  a very aggressive US interference in Bolivia in order to control and bankrupt the country.

Full support to Morales who did very good for Bolivia and now corrupt police, narcos, mercenaries, CIA and local tycoons, violently try to place in the new puppet alias   "Luis Fernando Camacho " !

Lets hope as in Venezuela they may fail !

The history of US interference in South America to endlessly support right wing coups and fascist dictatorships such as Pinochet, is one of the most unpleasant series of events in the past 50/60 years. The evils of European colonialism, set the template, although of course empires have risen and fallen throughout recorded history. China did the same in Tibet. Big powerful countries believe it is their god given right to exploit smaller and weaker ones. 

 

However, though I also am happy that the US attempt to destabilize Maduro failed, it would be naive to imagine that Maduro or Morales are paragons of virtue, thugs would describe them better. Do you really imagine that both the army and the police* refusing to suppress protest against Morales are ALL part of some US conspiracy? That requires one hell of an imagination.

 

* apparently numerous ordinary policemen and soldiers matched with the protesters. Senior policemen like senators can be bought, the US doesn't bother with the rank and file.

Edited November 10, 2019 by Nigel Garvie

[Bluespunk]

16 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Adding to the pressure on Morales, the Armed Forces said in a statement on Saturday "that we will never confront the people to whom we have a duty and we will always ensure peace, coexistence and the development of our homeland."

In other words, we’re going to take over. 

[Tug]

He just resigned by order of the military sadly it’s a pretty good guess how this will turn out I’d be delighted to be proved wrong!