Supporters of former Bolivian President Evo Morales seized a military unit, demanding an end to the operation to unblock roads, Bolivia TV reports.
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“Supporters of Evo Morales have seized a military unit in Villa Tunari (Cochabamba department) and are holding soldiers,” the report said.
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Users of social networks distributed a video recorded by protesters, in which a soldier asks not to interfere with the demonstrators, since “his life and the lives of other soldiers are under threat.”
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Early this morning, the police, with the support of the military, began a large-scale operation to unblock the roads that protesters have been blocking for the 19th day in a row. Thus, they express dissatisfaction with rising food prices and fuel shortages in the country. In addition, demonstrators are demanding that the investigation against Morales, suspected of human trafficking and molestation of a minor, be stopped.
Next year Bolivia will hold presidential elections, in which the main contenders are expected to be the current and former presidents, Luis Arce and Evo Morales. Both represent the country’s largest leftist “Movement Toward Socialism.” Within it there are groups that support Morales and those who side with Arce.
During the entire period of road blocking and clashes between demonstrators and security forces, at least 70 people were injured, including nine civilians and 61 police officers. According to Arce, the protests disrupted the work of small and large businesses, the tourism sector and the country’s prestige suffered.
