La Paz, Bolivia —
Hundreds of Bolivian farmers and workers who support former President Evo Morales continued their march on La Paz for the third consecutive day on Sunday to protest the economic crisis the country is suffering.
“This is a just struggle, a peaceful march, we are talking about people who are dying of hunger,” said Indigenous leader Juanita Ancieta.
“The people have risen up and no one is going to stop us because the country is in bad shape,” she added.
Without Morales, its historic leader, who remained in his stronghold of Cochabamba (center), the “March for Life,” which brings together hundreds of inhabitants from various regions, left the district of Calamarca on Sunday morning.
It started Friday from Patacamaya, in the Andes, with the goal of reaching the seat of government and Parliament in La Paz, which the marchers hope to reach by Monday.
Some chew coca leaves to combat hunger and fatigue. Others hold up placards against the economic policies of President Luis Arce, former economy minister under Evo Morales.
“This is a march against the rising cost of living, against the lack of fuel supplies because of this government. This march demands that it solve these problems,” Flora Aguilar, wearing a multi-colored blanket, told reporters.
For months, Luis Arce and Evo Morales have been at odds over control of the ruling party and the choice of candidate between the two for the presidential election next August.
According to official data, inflation in Bolivia was 9.9% in 2024, the highest in 16 years, while fuel and dollar shortages affect the entire country.
The government is subsidizing fuel imports, which has dried up the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
This march is the second after the one in September, in which Evo Morales himself participated.
Since then, the former president (2006-2019) remains in the Cochabamba region, in the center of the country, because there is an arrest order against him from the prosecutor’s office, with which the local police refuse to cooperate.
Evo Morales, 65, is accused of having a relationship with a minor in 2015, with whom he allegedly had a daughter, which he denies. He denounces “judicial persecution” by the Arce government.
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Publish date : 2025-01-12 08:28:00
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