Inside MAS: Evo Morales accuses Bolivian government of “attacking and persecuting” his supporters

Former President of Bolivia and leader of the ruling party Movement Towards Socialism (MAS). Evo Morales (2006-2019), was indicted this Thursday by the Bolivian government “Violently attack and harass” his sympathizers.

The former president was referring to a meeting of political organizations called by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) on Wednesday, which preceded clashes between supporters of Morales and supporters of Bolivia's president. Lewis ArsBoth committees are made up of members of the MAS.

“What is the job of a government ministry? To take care of its people, but now we have to take care of the government ministry,” Morales said at a press conference in La Paz.

The former ruler said on Wednesday that civil servants came to attack his supporters with tomatoes, firecrackers and “bazookas”. 3,500 people.

“From the government ministry, they told me the day before yesterday, (they instructed) to bring dynamite and firecrackers, (they said) we shouldn't allow Evo inside that meeting,” added Morales.

Then, through a release

“Our sisters and brothers who accompanied us to the meeting of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal were violently repressed by subversive groups sent by the government of Louis Arce and protected by the police,” he added.

He also recalled seeing a helicopter flying over his house in the central part of the Tropics, his political and trade union stronghold, Cochabamba in May this year, and said it belonged to the Ars government.

“There is permanent harassment in the tropics,” he added.

Earlier, both those close to Morales and supporters of Ars were staged around the TSE headquarters. A fight between insults and caningIn addition to chanting slogans in support of their leaders, they continued to use firecrackers.

A meeting of political organizations unanimously decided to ask the Plurinational Legislative Assembly (ALP) in the afternoon. Stop the presidential electionJudicial elections due in 2023 should be given priority.

Morales disagreed with this commitment, did not sign the joint declaration and left the meeting place surrounded by his followers.

Ars and Morals are It is away from the end of 2021. Morales and Arce both held their own congresses as presidents of MAS and rejected an opponent in an attempt to strengthen their candidacies. Internal conflict between politicians is not new, but it intensified in 2023, when Morales held a meeting without the president and his followers and declared himself the “sole candidate”.

However, in November TSE did not approve the “Tenth MeetingThis means that MAS will hold a new conference for the election of its National Board and its Disciplinary Court. “Militancy.

(with information from EFE)