- Evo Morales maintains that the accusations are part of a “politically motivated campaign” against him to thwart his potential presidential bid in the 2025 elections. Main photo: EFE
The Attorney General of Bolivia, Juan Lanchipa, announced on Monday, October 7, that he has summoned former president and leader of the ruling party Evo Morales (2006-2019) to provide a statement on a case of alleged “child exploitation” and “statutory rape.” This statement is scheduled to take place on October 10 in the Tarija region.
Statutory Rape.
This is a serious offense that occurs when an adult engages in sexual activities with a minor who has not attained the age of legal consent. The victim may give consent for the act based on deception, coercion, or abuse of authority over that person.
“The summons of the three individuals accused in this case, including Mr. Evo Morales, and the parents of the alleged victim have been arranged for Thursday, October 10 at the departmental prosecutor’s office of Tarija,” Lanchipa stated to local media.
Morales was also accused by the Minister of Justice, César Siles, of being involved in an investigation for the possible “sexual assault” of a minor, with whom he allegedly had a child, and for creating a network of young people between 14 and 15 years old to have at his disposal during his Presidency, which he called “Generation Evo.”
The complaint to which Siles refers also alleges that the parents of the alleged victim “profited” from her by giving her to the former president in exchange for favors.
Last Wednesday, the departmental prosecutor of Tarija, Sandra Gutiérrez, shocked the country with the complaint that she was fired from her position by the attorney general for attempting to execute an arrest warrant against Evo Morales and revealed the case of “human trafficking” that involves him.
However, the arrest warrant against the former president was halted by a Santa Cruz judge.
Yet, a judge ordered the reinstatement of Gutiérrez in her position, and Lanchipa confirmed that prosecutor Gutiérrez regained her position.
Evo Morales Denounces Accusations as Politically Motivated
Evo Morales maintains that the accusations are part of a “politically motivated campaign” against him to thwart his potential presidential bid in the 2025 elections.
“#Lawfare is the new Condor Plan: they no longer murder with bullets, they now promote moral murders through sentences against popular leaders. They initiated four judicial processes against us simultaneously, all with forced actions to seek our apprehension,” Morales wrote on October 7 in a publication on the social network X.
The Puebla Group, a prominent political and academic forum representing the Latin American left, expressed its concern about the alleged “judicial persecution” due to the case opened against the former Bolivian president.
“Despite all the mediation efforts between former President Evo Morales and President Luis Arce, their legitimate differences now appear to be transferred to the courts,” the Puebla Group stated.
“Just as they did with Lula and Cristina (Fernández), they will seek to disqualify our participation in future elections to pave the way for right-wing governments. Just as they did with Rafael Correa, this action stems from betrayal,” Morales stated.
The investigation and accusations arise in the midst of a long-standing power struggle between Morales and President Luis Arce for control of the ruling Movement towards Socialism (MAS) and the Bolivian government.
The complaint for human trafficking was filed on September 26, three days after Evo Morales, following a 187-kilometer march through the Bolivian highlands, gave Arce an ultimatum stating that if he wanted to continue governing, he must dismiss his ministers. This action was described by the government as an attempted “coup d’état.”
The Ongoing Investigation Against Evo Morales
The Bolivian authorities have confirmed an ongoing investigation against former President Evo Morales for the crime of sexual abuse against a minor, in addition to a case of human trafficking that occurred eight years ago, during his presidency.
According to the Bolivian Minister of Justice, César Siles, the victim of sexual abuse would have had a daughter with Morales, as confirmed by a birth certificate of the minor.
“As a result of that rape, the mother gave birth to another girl and the father recognized on the birth certificate is Mr. Evo Morales Ayma,” Siles said during a press conference in La Paz on October 3.
The Dark Cloud Over Evo Morales: A Web of Allegations and Controversy
In a shocking turn of events, Evo Morales, the former President of Bolivia, has been summoned by the Attorney General of Bolivia, Juan Lanchipa, to provide a statement on a case of alleged “child exploitation” and “statutory rape”. This statement is scheduled to take place on October 10 in the Tarija region. Morales has vehemently denied these allegations, claiming that they are part of a “politically motivated campaign” to thwart his potential presidential bid in the 2025 elections.
The accusations against Morales are serious and disturbing. According to the Minister of Justice, César Siles, Morales is alleged to have been involved in an investigation for the possible “sexual assault” of a minor, with whom he allegedly had a child. The complaint also alleges that Morales created a network of young people between 14 and 15 years old to have at his disposal during his presidency, which he called “Generation Evo”. Furthermore, the parents of the alleged victim are accused of profiting from her by giving her to the former president in exchange for favors.
The situation took a dramatic turn when the departmental prosecutor of Tarija, Sandra Gutiérrez, was fired from her position by the Attorney General for attempting to execute an arrest warrant against Morales. However, a judge later ordered the reinstatement of Gutiérrez, and Lanchipa confirmed that prosecutor Gutiérrez regained her position.
Morales’ denies all allegations against him, and his supporters claim that these accusations are merely a ploy to discredit him ahead of the 2025 elections. While Morales’ past has been marred by controversy, these new allegations have raised serious concerns about his character and fitness to hold public office.
In light of these developments, it is essential to examine the context and circumstances surrounding these allegations. The fact that Morales’ former interior minister was arrested in the US for allegedly taking part in a kickback scheme [[1]]raises questions about the broader culture of corruption and impunity within Morales’ inner circle.
Moreover, Morales’ own history of contradictions and controversies, including allegations of staging a “self-coup” [[3]], have eroded trust in his leadership and created an atmosphere of skepticism around his claims of innocence.
Ultimately, the truth about these allegations must be determined through a fair and impartial investigation. If Morales is found guilty of these heinous crimes, it would be a devastating blow to his legacy and a betrayal of the trust placed in him by the Bolivian people.
In the meantime, the Bolivian people must demand transparency and accountability from their leaders. The international community must also keep a close eye on the situation, ensuring that justice is served and that those responsible are held accountable for their actions.
References:
[[1]]https://apnews.com/hub/evo-morales
[[2]]https://sg.news.yahoo.com/bolivias-morales-investigated-rape-minor-030250552.html
[[3]]https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/bolivian-president-faces-more-accusations-of-staging-self-coup-including-from-rival-evo-morales
