With almost 200 soldiers in captivity and $2.1 billion in damages from roadblocks, Morales calls for talks to resolve the situation.
In response to protests by his supporters that resulted in the hostage-taking of 200 soldiers, former president Evo Morales has accused the Bolivian government of disregarding his desire for discussion.
On the second day of his hunger strike, which he started in order to demand that the government engage in negotiations with him, Morales made the charge.
In a quick interview with AFP, he stated, “I requested immediate dialogue… and the government’s response was to arrest… comrades and take them to La Paz.”
In an effort to hinder Morales’ political rebirth, his supporters blocked roads beginning last month to keep him from being arrested on what the former leader claims are false rape charges.
The Ministry of Productive Development estimates that after 21 days of blockades, losses in a number of sectors totaled $2.1 billion.
The foreign ministry said that more than 200 military soldiers were taken prisoner by Morales supporters in the central Chapare region on Friday.
“Morales is being looked into.”
While stating that it “strongly condemn(ed) the armed and violent takeover of military units,” the defense ministry provided no additional information regarding the hostages’ whereabouts.
Police also made 66 separate arrests, bringing the total number of people arrested since the roadblocks started on October 14 to dozens.
Maria Nela Prada, a close presidential aide, stated on Saturday that a dialogue was being managed by the office of the state ombudsman.
“To address issues that concern the executive branch and not other state bodies,” she said, the government consents to speak.
The 65-year-old Morales served from 2006 to 2019, when he resigned amid controversy following rigged elections.
Morales intends to compete against his old ally, President Luis Arce, for the left-wing MAS party’s nomination in the August elections, even though he is not allowed to run again.
Due to his suspected relationship with a 15-year-old girl in 2015, prosecutors have revealed that Morales is being investigated on suspicion of statutory rape, people trafficking, and human smuggling.
Morales is suspected of fathering the girl’s daughter, who was born in 2016.
The allegations, according to Morales, who has taken refuge in the rural Chapare region, are false.
