Former Bolivian President Evo Morales (2006-2019), in an interview with EFE from Chapare, Cochabamba, assured that if captured by the government of Luis Arce, there would be an "uprising" of indigenous movements against the current president, and that the Armed Forces "will mutiny". Morales, who has been holed up in Chapare for 17 days, claimed to have information from military and police supporting this possibility, due to supposed changes in command.
Morales' supporters have begun to block roads in defense of the former president in light of a possible arrest warrant for accusations of human trafficking and sexual assault. Morales stated, "The blockades are the beginning of a rebellion against Lucho's (Arce) betrayal" and pointed out that the 'evista' indigenous and peasant sectors decided to block in response to economic problems in the country.
Expressing his intention to remain in Bolivia to fight for his people, Evo Morales reiterated his allegation of an "assassination attempt" against him last Sunday. He went into exile in Argentina in 2019 after resigning the presidency amid allegations of electoral fraud, labeling what happened as a "coup d'état against him".
Morales referred to an alleged plan by the current president and his distancing from Economy Minister Luis Arce, whom he accuses of trying to eliminate him from politics. Amid rising tensions in Bolivia, the Police withdrew to Chapare citing lack of security, leading to the closure of banks in the region.
The situation escalated when Morales' followers detained and assaulted journalists and police during an attempt to lift one of the blockades. Evo Morales pointed out that the only way to stop the blockades is through open primary elections in the MAS to choose the presidential candidate in 2025 and to drop the legal proceedings against him.
Finally, Morales accused the Minister of Government, Eduardo del Castillo, of being his "enemy" and being involved in an alleged plan to assassinate him. Rejecting the accusations against him, Evo Morales stated that he will not leave Bolivia and continues to challenge the current government, assuring that he will keep fighting alongside his people.
