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At least two dead in Bolivia post-election clashes
LA PAZ, Oct 31, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – At least two people have died and six
others were injured in clashes between supporters and opponents of Bolivian
President Evo Morales following his disputed election victory earlier this
month, the government said Wednesday.
The controversial October 20 election, won by Morales but described by his
opponent Carlos Mesa as a fraud, has triggered almost a week of violent
clashes.
“There have been six people injured (and) two people killed: Mario
Salvatierra, 55, Marcelo Terrazas, 41,” said the Interior Minister Carlos
Romero, following reports of the latest violence in the eastern town of
Montero.
Earlier local media reports had said the men were aged 48 and 60.
“The truth is that human lives have been lost, and that is irreparable,”
Defense minister Javier Zabaleta told local media.
As many as 139 people have been injured since the protests began, state
Ombudsman Nadia Cruz said.
The killings came as Bolivia’s government agreed to a binding audit by the
US-based Organization of American States of the disputed election results,
which awarded Morales a fourth term in office.
However Mesa — who was defeated by Morales in the vote — rejected the
audit.
Angry opposition protesters have set up street barricades and gone on
strike since the announcement of the results, fighting Morales supporters
with bare hands and makeshift weapons.
Morales has said the protests are part of a “coup d’etat” encouraged by
Mesa, who has called for strikes to continue and claimed that civic
institutions and social movements supported his rejection of the official
results.
The opposition leader has rejected accusations of a coup but has
challenged the government: “either I go to jail or go to the presidency.”
Demonstrators have also clashed with security forces.
BSS/AFP/SSS/1702 hrs