In Bolivia, indigenous-led protests continued to rage in La Paz Thursday, after Bolivia’s self-proclaimed interim President Jeanine Áñez swore in a new Cabinet with no indigenous members. Áñez is a right-wing Christian who’s previously blasted indigenous communities as “Satanic” in tweets that she later deleted. She said Thursday that exiled socialist President Evo Morales — who fled to Mexico after he was deposed by the military Sunday — would not be allowed to compete in a new round of elections.
Sen. Jeanine Áñez: “I would suggest to the Movement for Socialism party that from now on they have every right to participate in the general elections, but they need to start looking for a candidate. Evo Morales is not qualified for a fourth term, that’s why all of this convulsion has taken place. That’s why there have been so many protests by Bolivians on the streets.”
Áñez said her government is issuing a formal complaint to Mexico, asking them to silence Evo Morales — who’s repeatedly spoken publicly against last weekend’s coup. Since his departure, violence against indigenous people has skyrocketed in Bolivia. This is one of Morales’ supporters.
Sofia: “Evo Morales has been a good man. He worked for the people. He didn’t rob from us like these thieves who want to shake up the state and kill us like dogs, as if we’re not humans.”