Bolivia government denies attempting to kill Evo Morales
The government of Bolivia has denied claims made by former president Evo Morales that it ordered an attack on his life. Morales says that his car was hit by gunfire on Sunday in the country’s Cochabamba region which he denounced as an attempt to take his life.
However, the Interior Minister of Bolivia, Eduardo del Castillo, said that the former president’s convoy had been fleeing an anti-drugs protocol and that Morales’ security team fired at police before running over another officer.
The former president is involved in a power struggle with President Luis Arce regarding who should be the candidate for the Movement for Socialism (Mas) party in the election next year. On Sunday, Morales posted a video on social media in which it appeared to show at least two bullet holes in the windscreen of his car in the front seat where he was sitting.
A pro-Morales faction of the Mas party said in a statement that men in black had fired gunshots at the vehicle as it passed by military barracks, adding that it held President Arce’s government responsible.
But on Monday, del Castillo told a news conference an anti-drug trafficking unit had been on a regular highway patrol when the convoy that Morales was part of shot at police and ran over an officer. “Mr Morales, nobody believes the theatre you have staged,” he added.
Morales has disputed this version of events, saying in a post on X that he was shot at “more than 18 times” and that he only shot back after the police opened fire.
Morales ruled Bolivia between 2006 and 2019. He is facing legal issues including investigations over an alleged statutory rape and human trafficking, though he denies it. His supporters have blocked key roads around the country for weeks and clashed with police.
The accusations, he argues, are part of a right-wing vendetta against him by the interim president who replaced Morales in 2019 following allegations of vote-rigging. Both leaders have loyal supporters willing march on the streets and even engage in street brawls in their support.
Image: Joel Alvarez
Stay tuned to EyeOnLondon for the latest news and expert opinions.
