Bolivia government warns of attempts by opponents to “sabotage” economic progress through protests

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Minister of Defense, Edmundo Novillo, has warned of the different attempts by opponents to “sabotage” economic advances through protests and regretted that these sectors intend to “divide” in relation to the deaths that occurred during the 2019 crisis.

“They always try to sabotage the work we are doing, we hope the population reflects, this civic strike is going to do tremendous damage to the country,” he has stressed before warning that the protests could cause losses of 100 million dollars.

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His words come after political figures such as former presidents Carlos Mesa and Jorge Quiroga; the governor of Santa Cruz, Luso Fernando Camacho; Carolina Ribera, daughter of former interim president Jeanine Áñez; civic representatives, citizen platforms and the National Committee for the Defense of Democracy (Conade) decided to join the strike called for October 11.

In addition, they have demanded the annulment of the Health Emergency Law, the Creation of the Trade Registry, and promotions to generalship in the Police, according to information from the newspaper ‘La Razón’.

At a meeting held in Santa Cruz, the parties have also agreed to support and organize any action that will affect their demands, such as the release of Áñez and blocking the law against the legitimization of illicit profits.

“These stoppages are to trip up (the reactivation), above all to sabotage the government,” insisted the Minister, who considered that the opposition is giving in to “pressure measures” to prevent those responsible for the 38 deaths that occurred after the resignation of former President Evo Morales from being tried.

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