An investigation group of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) revealed on Tuesday that "
massacres
" were perpetrated by the army and the police against civilians during the post-election violence of 2019 in Bolivia.
The Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI) of the IACHR investigated the violence that occurred after the disputed presidential election of 2019 where ex-president Evo Morales was running for a fourth term but was accused of fraud by the opposition , and which left 37 dead.
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The report points to “
an excessive and disproportionate use of force
” by the police and the army, who moreover “
have failed to adequately prevent acts of violence, leaving citizens without protection
”. "
Individuals have promoted and carried out acts of violence
", also mentioned the GIEI noting that victims appear "
on both sides of the political spectrum
". The expert group points to the responsibility of politicians by asserting that "
the demonstrations and blocking actions (...) which degenerated into violent confrontations and aggressions (...) were preceded by antagonistic speeches from recognized leaders
" .
Two serious incidents, in Sacaba, near Cochabamba (center) stronghold of the allies of Evo Morales, and in the town of El Alto four days later, which each caused the death of 11 people, were "
without any hesitation.
"Qualified as"
massacres
"by the GIEI. President Arce said the report "
clearly captured the serious human rights violations, massacres and extrajudicial killings that took place
" during what he called a "
coup
" against his political mentor. , Evo Morales.
Bolivian justice in the hands of power has already placed in preventive detention the former right-wing interim president, Jeanine Añez, who had succeeded Morales, as well as several of his ministers and former leaders of the army and the police. Jeanine Añez was sworn in as interim president in November 2019, two days after the resignation of Evo Morales who proclaimed himself the winner of the presidential election. After the violent demonstrations, Evo Morales, let loose by the police and the army, resigned and took refuge in Mexico and then in Argentina. He returned to Bolivia after the October 2020 presidential victory of his dolphin Luis Arce.