"We Do Not Want Any Dictators": Bolivians Flood Streets to Protest Right-Wing, Anti-Indigenous Coup by Eoin Higgins!
(2019-11-14 at 22:43:17 )

"We Do Not Want Any Dictators": Bolivians Flood Streets to Protest Right-Wing, Anti-Indigenous Coup by Eoin Higgins

"Anti-Indigenous racism is at the heart of what is happening in Bolivia."

A supporter of Bolivian ex-President Evo Morales waves white flags during clashes with riot police following a protest in La Paz on November 13, 2019.

Unrest continued in Bolivia Thursday as protests against the right-wing coup that unseated democratically-elected President Evo Morales on Sunday and the anti-Indigenous ideology behind it entered their fourth day.

Demonstrators filled the streets of the Bolivian capitol, La Paz, waving the indigenous wiphala flag and registering their disapproval of the new interim government of Jeanine Añez.

"We do not want any dictators," protester Paulina Luchampe told Time Magazine on Wednesday. "This lady has stepped on us-that is why we are so mad."

New president Ms Anez has come under criticism for a history of comments promoting an extreme right-wing Christian theocratic ideology, including referring to the countrys Indigenous population as "satanic."

Members of the countrys police and military forces, whose support for the coup over the weekend precipitated Mr. Morales resignation Sunday, have been photographed cutting the wiphala flag off of their uniforms.

"Anti-Indigenous racism is at the heart of what is happening in Bolivia," tweeted Cherokee activist and writer Rebecca Nagle.

Right-wing militias burning the flag and attacking the countrys Indigenous protest movement mean that the conflict is more than just about political differences, said Bolivian feminist Adriana Guzman-it is about the countrys right-wing being opposed to everything the Morales government stood for.

"The coup d etat is against all of that," said Ms Guzman. "That is why they degrade. That is why they punish. That is why they burn the Indigenous wiphala flag."

Protests continued on Thursday.

In an opinion piece for The Guardian, Nick Estes, co-founder and editor of The Red Nation, said that the difference between the two camps in Bolivia is clear.

"The future of Bolivia is currently marching in the streets, the millions of people who voted for Evo in the last elections, the 47% whose voices and votes were stolen by the violent return of the old, colonial oligarchy," wrote Mr. Estes.

Protester Luchampe said she hoped the protests would continue until there is a resolution to the conflict that undoes the coup.

"We are going to fight with our brothers and sisters until Evo Morales is back," said Ms Luchampe.

"We ask for his return. He needs to put the house in order."

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