(CNN Spanish) - The Minister of Justice of Bolivia, Álvaro Coimbra, told CNN on Thursday that they will sue this Friday for "the health, sedition, genocide, damage to the environment and property of the State" against "the intellectual authors ”Of the blockades to several highways in the country, mainly in Cochabamba, that began days ago. Among those mentioned by the government are former President Evo Morales and other members of the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS), as well as several cocalero leaders that the government assures, are related to MAS and members of the Central Obrera Boliviana (COB).
This will be the second lawsuit against the former president regarding the health of Bolivians since the start of the pandemic. In July, the interim government announced that it had filed a criminal lawsuit against former President Morales, several members of the Central Obrera Boliviana (COB) and other leaders of the Movement to Socialism (MAS) for the mobilizations against the postponement of the general elections, in which saw crowds of people.
The road blocks started this Monday for the same reason. The elections were originally scheduled for May, but were postponed by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) twice, first to September and then to October 18, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"There are 54,651 active cases of covid-19 that need medications, supplies, oxygen, but all of this cannot be transported by land due to the blockades in La Paz, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz, promoted by MAS, which demands the flexibility of quarantine and the haste of the general elections, ”Deputy Justice Minister Huberth Vargas said in a statement from the interim government.
"We deplore the blockades because they lack all legitimacy and put the health of Bolivians at risk, that is why we will initiate processes against intellectual and material authors," added Vargas.
Former President Morales has not reacted to this announcement, but a few days ago he described the interim government's complaints as "political persecution."
CNN is trying to get the reaction of the exmandatario, MAS and COB.
The president of the Chamber of Deputies, Sergio Choque, of MAS, on Wednesday asked the mobilized sectors to allow the passage of medical supplies, oxygen and food. "I urge, I plead, those who are on the main roads making these blockades, allow ambulances, trucks loaded with oxygen, with food and medicine to pass, because life and health first, fundamentally," states the text.
The Ministry of Justice requested a report from the Health Ministry on "the consequences of these mobilizations in the transfer of equipment, oxygen and supplies, as well as those who died due to the lack of passage for these elements and the destruction of ambulances."
With information from Gloria Carrasco
