Far-Right Bolivia Coup Leader Jeanine Anez Arrested on Terrorism, Sedition Charges by Jake Johnson!
(2021-03-18 at 04:29:43 )

Far-Right Bolivia Coup Leader Jeanine Anez Arrested on Terrorism, Sedition Charges by Jake Johnson!

"The authors and accomplices of the dictatorship that looted the economy and attacked life and democracy in Bolivia "must" be investigated and punished," said Evo Morales, the former president.

Far-right Bolivian politician Jeanine Anez was arrested Saturday on charges of terrorism and sedition for her role in the 2019 military coup that ousted former President Evo Morales and ushered in a brutal regime that violently repressed largely Indigenous pro-democracy protesters.

In November of 2019-days after Mr. Morales was forced by the nations military to resign and flee the country over bogus claims of election fraud-Anez declared herself the interim president of Bolivia in violation of the countrys constitution. The Donald Trump administration, then in power in the United States, applauded the military coup as it drew global condemnation.

What followed was a wave of deadly attacks by the Bolivian police and military against demonstrators who took to the streets to denounce the subversion of democracy and the illegitimate removal of the nations first Indigenous leader.

But last October, as Common Dreams reported, Morales Movement for Socialism (MAS) party-now headed by Luis Arce-prevailed in the countrys closely-watched presidential election after the contest was twice postponed by the coup regime. Ms Anez dropped out of the race in September after polling showed her in fourth place; her ally, Luis Camacho, ultimately came in third in the presidential election.

Early Saturday morning, Bolivian minister of government Carlos Eduardo del Castillo tweeted that Ms Anez has "been apprehended and is currently in the hands of the police" after a warrant was issued for her arrest. Ms Anez claimed she is a victim of "political persecution."

The Friday announcement of the warrant for Ms Anezs arrest came after warrants were also issued for the former head of the armed forces and police, according to the Associated Press.

In a tweet Saturday morning, Mr. Morales declared that "the authors and accomplices of the dictatorship that looted the economy and attacked life and democracy in Bolivia "must" be investigated and punished."

Reprinted here from "Common Dreams" has been providing breaking news & views for the progressive community since 1997. We are independent, non-profit, advertising-free and 100% reader supported.