Cuba rejects and describes the attack on Evo Morales as “cowardly aggression”

The Government of Cuba rejected this Sunday the attack carried out against the former president of Bolivia, Evo Morales (2006-2019) and described it as a “cowardly aggression.”

“We reject the assassination attempt on brother Evo Morales, former president of Bolivia, a cowardly attack on peace and stability,” wrote Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez on the X social network.

The former president declared to the coca station Kawsachun Coca that the pursuit of his vehicle by two others in which the attackers were traveling occurred this morning, when he was traveling between the town of Villa Tunari and Lauca Ñ, in the Tropics of Cochabamba, to participate on the Sunday program he hosts on that radio.

He also reported that he observed that two or three trucks were following his car, so his driver – who was injured – “diverted” his route, but the chase did not stop. “That’s when I realized it was an operation,” he added and said he had counted at least 14 shots.

Moment

These events occur when this day marks two weeks of the indefinite road blockade that Morales’ followers maintain to demand that the Government withdraw the judicial proceedings for human trafficking and statutory rape against the former president, which they consider to be part of a political persecution. .

They also ask for solutions to the rise in food prices, the lack of dollars, the irregular supply of fuel and respect for a MAS congress that in 2023 declared Morales “sole candidate” for next year’s elections.

The Bolivian president, Luis Arce, condemned the exercise of any violent practice in politics and announced that “in response to former President Morales’ complaint of an alleged attack on his life” he instructed “an immediate and thorough investigation to clarify this fact.”

Accusation against Arce

The national leadership of the ruling Movement towards Socialism (MAS), led by Morales, issued a statement in which it blames President Arce, and the Ministers of Government, Eduardo del Castillo, and Defense Ministers, Edmundo Novillo, for what happened.

On Saturday, the Bolivian Foreign Ministry denounced to the international community that the protests led by Morales “intend to interrupt the democratic order” and shortly after Arce changed the military high command with the request that they protect public order and democracy.

Havana / EFE