Bolivian Crisis

My Research Report

At present, the country Bolivia of South America is living a big problem called Evo Morales. In Bolivia there are serious issues because of impunity for violent crimes and human rights violations, so people from different departments of Bolivia march towards La Paz, in repudiation of the nomination of Bolivian President Evo Morales.

His government has generated a hostile climate for human rights defenders, which undermines their ability to work independently.

In 2013, a ruling by the Constitutional Court allowed

President Evo Morales to run for the third time as president. In a national referendum held in 2016, voters rejected a constitutional reform that would have allowed President Morales to present himself again as president. However, in November 2017, the Constitutional Court removed the limits to re-election, which will allow Morales to run again in 2019.

But, which are the real reasons why the people in Bolivia don't want any more Morales as President?

1.    Impunity for abuse and violent crimes: The Armed Forces have refused to provide information to the judicial authorities about the locality of people who were killed or suffered forced disappearance. Impunity has led to attacks against people believed to have committed crimes. For example the assassination of Edson Soria (He was only 19 years old) who was accused of stealing motorcycles.

2.    Human rights defenders: Many human rights defenders have been harassed, even by government people, which limits their ability to work independently. A law and a decree that President Morales signed in 2013 give the government broad powers to dissolve civil society organizations. This law allows the Pluri-national Assembly to request that the legal personality of an NGO be revoked in cases of “public need or interest”. These measures unduly grant the government ample room to meddle in the activities of independent civil society organizations.

3.    Freedom of speech: The Morales government has regularly speculated against journalists, accusing them without presenting evidence of spreading lies and distorting reality with political intentions. The government has repeatedly accused the media of participating in an international conspiracy against Bolivia and the president.

4.    Indigenous rights: In May of 2017, President Morales enacted a legislative project authorizing the construction of a highway in the Indigenous Territory and Isiboro Secure National Park. The law is based on a consultation conducted in 2012 to local indigenous organizations that according to some human rights organizations, was not totally free or fair.

By Antonio De La Ossa, Step 9