An Argentinian human rights delegation that visited Bolivia at the end of November, in the wake of the US-backed coup that overthrew President Evo Morales, has concluded that ‘there is state terror in Bolivia’. We republish their findings, which include the murder of indigenous people, the use of torture, sexual assault and disappearances which have been used by the illegitimate government of Jeanine Anez to repress resistance.
COUP IN BOLIVIA: REPORT FROM THE ARGENTINIAN DELEGATION ON VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS
The report by Argentinian Social Leaders finds that the massacres at Sacaba and Senkata were the worst crimes against human rights by the de facto Bolivian government. The report collates testimony by victims and witnesses of state violence during the coup against Evo Morales.
COMPLETE TEXT OF THE REPORT
For the present, the members of the Argentinian Delegation in Solidarity with Bolivia offer to the international public opinion the preliminary conclusions of our survey on the situation of human, social, political and cultural rights that the Bolivian people are going through.
It is necessary to point out that the delegation is made up of a multidisciplinary team of distinguished professionals and leaders of social movements that carried out visits, interviews and meetings with victims of human rights violations, persecuted politicians and other relevant actors for a precise understanding of the critical situation taking place in the Plurinational State of Bolivia.
Concretely, witness statements was taken from hundreds of people in a secure location in El Alto, other victims were visited in their homes, patients in hospital were visited and meetings took place in La Paz with activists from politics, urban, peasant and indigenous social movements. The delegation could not achieve all of its intended programme due to explicit threats from the de facto Minister of Interior Arturo Murillo and activities by groups of civilian mobs.
By way of analysing the preliminary information, the delegation affirms that:
The political and social frame of reference; coup d’etat and de facto government
- The Plurinational State of Bolivia has suffered a coup d’etat planned by specific civilian groups, business sectors, police personnel and high-ranking officers in the armed forces with the aim of overthrowing President Evo Morales and installing a de facto government. This coup had the explicit support of foreign governments such as that of Donald Trump who congratulated the armed forces for its actions in disrupting the Constitution. We have likewise testimony concerning contact by many foreign officials with the coup, in particular with Fernando Camacho.
- The authors promoting the coup coordinated activities to provoke a situation of terror in society and destabilisation of the Constitutional government which had a mandate up to the 22/01/20. The physical and psychological aggression had as its aim the breaking of the political and social government front as initial aim and later to consolidate it in a coup. This process deepened after the challenged election results from the 20 October, and exploded on the publication of a “preliminary communique” from the OAS. This communique energised the supporters of the coup, raising the confrontation into a moment of social convulsion. The afore mentioned communique was not anticipated in the Accord endorsed by the OAS and the Plurinational State. This fact being added to by the irresponsible statements by Luis Almagro leads us to conclude that there was a clear political intention, indifferent to the spirit of the electoral audit. It is fair to point out that to date the final electoral audit report has not yet been published.
- This delegation confirms that there was coordinated action against the leadership of social movements grouped around the so-called Pact of Unity and the COB. We have ample documentation of coercion against leaders and their families into taking positions contrary to their will and for fear of losing their life and liberty. By means of this strategy of threats, the organisers of the coup managed to partially to split the social resistance to the coup primarily, and then later the de facto government.
- The resignations of Evo Morales, Alvaro Garcia Linera, Adriana Salvatierra and other officials at various levels of government were the direct result of pressure exercised by the military high command. Likewise the multiple threats against rulers, public humiliation, physical aggression and attacks on family homes were contributory factors. The premises of public and community media were overtaken by coup supporters. In sum it is possible to say that all legalities were ignored in carrying out these acts.
- Through this, the de facto government carried out a manoeuvre with the minimum pretence of legality to legitimate its authority. Thus the Bolivian citizen Janine Anez firstly proclaimed herself president of the Senate and later President of the Plurinational State, in parliamentary sessions which complied with none of the requirements to carry it out. The fact that the presidential authority was handed to her by the Chief of the armed forces, Williams Kaliman, is eloquent in this respect.
- From this point on the de facto government took on an open dictatorial policy of repression against the deposed authorities, political and social leaders associated with the Constitutional government and a combination of the most vulnerable sections of the population, in particular the indigenous peoples. Also, we are beginning to see an increase in authoritarian practice against other political and social spaces. In this context there have been grave violations of human rights which already have taken on a systematic form which constitute crimes against humanity.
Violations of Human Rights
- We can point out that the systematic repression mounted by the de facto government has caused dozens of deaths, hundreds of arbitrary arrests, thousands of injuries, innumerable cases of oppression and torture, rape and other crimes against the physical, psychological and sexual rights of men, women, children, elderly and vulnerable members of society.
- This delegation wishes to report the following events:
- Massacres against the civilian population. In Sacaba (Cochabamba) with at least six dead, hundreds wounded and arbitrarily arrested by the armed forces.
- Senkata (El Alto), at least nine dead, people disappeared, dozens wounded and arbitrarily arrested as a consequence of activity by the armed forces.
- Forced disappearances. This delegation seeks to report such events which constitute such a large number that we have to assume they are held in state controlled centres where their families have not been able to contact them and where the de facto government has not provided details of their whereabouts.
- Torture, rape and sexual crimes. We wish to report torture in public spaces and police stations. Likewise we wish to report rape and sexual abuse perpetrated by members of the security and armed forces.
- We have received such testimony from victims themselves and witnesses. Fear is endemic and the events are very recent which prevents the population from reporting them.
- Attacks on officials, legislators and their families. This delegation wishes to report a significant number of such attacks by mobs threatening destruction of homes by arson, public humiliation and lynching. This situation reveals “free zones” for these activities by paramilitary groups. One organisation which stands out in this is the Union Juvenal Crucenista.
- Selective persecution of social movement leaders. This delegation reports breaking into and destruction of specific homes in El Alto and Chapare by the armed forces in order to catch certain leaders of social, trade union and indigenous movements. Persecution has seriously affected their basic human rights.
- Preparation of blacklists and denial of the right to legal defence. Diverse witnesses have reported the existence of these lists. This coincides with public statements by Murillo that, “there are senators and deputies, not all, whose names I will publish, who have been subversive (….) From Monday I will make orders, I already have lists of the same leaders passed to me from various areas, whom we are going to detain by government order.”
- Moreover there are many militants and political leaders and officials of the overthrown state who are detained without due process. They have been publicly denied the right to defence. Therefore public defenders have been afraid to take up their cases.
- Repression of public demonstrations. Security and armed forces have used completely disproportionate force. Reports indicate indiscriminate use of guns, tear gas, shootings from helicopters and military vehicles and violence against dispersed demonstrators. Thousands subjected to arbitrary arrest, criminalised by false police evidence and processed for sedition and terrorism.
- Restriction on press freedom. The delegation has been contacted by local journalists who have reported being harassed, threatened and restrictions on their ability to do their job. The International press has also been harassed. Especially serious for this delegation has been the case of the Argentinian journalist Sebastian Moro.
- Promotion of racism and hate speech. Representatives of the de facto government are using racist and hate speech to denigrate opposition and social movement leaders. Discriminatory practice and stigmatisation of victims has been confirmed. There are also other significant forms of symbolic violence such as destruction of indigenous emblems such as the Whipala.
- Denial of safe conduct for persecuted politicians who have been given refugee status by receiving countries. Various Embassies and Consulates have confirmed denial of guarantees to enable them to leave the country.
- Inaction and cover-ups by judicial powers. The judiciary has been completely taken over by the de facto government. Victims and families have been coerced into changing their statements, even on condition of them being allowed to go to hospital. There is an absolute barrier to accessing justice. This delegation found it impossible to meet members of the Judiciary, Public Prosecution or Defence despite repeated requests.
- Police and paramilitary harassment to international human rights delegations, spying and illegal bugging. This delegation, from its own experience, can attest to harassment of human rights groups. The delegation was detained at Santa Cruz airport, separated from other passengers and subjected to interrogation by police and military, outwith all normal migration procedures. Some members were subjected to exhaustive inspection and required to strip. After we were allowed to continue towards our connection to La Paz, we were approached by a group of approximately twelve people in civilian clothes in an airport corridor that was curiously deserted where they were only present members of the security forces who let this group act. These people assaulted us, verbally and physically, and threatened us.
- The following day the Minister of Interior Arturo Murillo, in reference to these events, said, ”We recommend to those foreigners arriving in this country, with their meek little faces, to try to provoke the country, that they go carefully for we are watching what they are doing.” “The first step they take towards terrorism and sedition, they will be dealt by the police. The police are aware and they have orders not to permit harm to the country, there is no tolerance towards terrorism, sedition and armed groups.”
- In the afternoon, a group of delegates who went to visit a Senator on hunger strike in the National Assembly, were bullied and harassed by a mob who had been waiting for them. During our visit to Bolivia, at every moment we were watched, followed and spied upon in everything we did.
- We can establish that the armed forces and police can depend on a cover of impunity for their repressive actions, based on Supreme Decree 4078 and a circular from General Luis Salazar Escobar enabling the establishment of “military zones”. These and other elements, in addition to public declarations by senior officials, leave no doubt of an established system for these violations against human rights and state crimes which we consider crimes against humanity.
- We issue a call to the International Human Rights organisations and the entire international community to agree a guardianship of human, civil, political, cultural and social rights that are threatened by the current order and that have been systematically violated by the de facto government. Faced with this situation of an election within the next 120 days, which implies the full recovery of a valid democracy and rule of law in the Plurinational State of Bolivia, this is only possible with the guarantee of rights which are today at risk. In particular we have received reports of persecution against political, social and trade union militants referring to harassment and the absolute impossibility of exercising their rights to attend meetings and any activity necessary for participation in said process. For this it will be indispensable for there to be the participation of external and independent observers for monitoring all stages of the electoral process. The delegation will draw up and make known in the next few days a complete report on the cases dealt with in the framework of our visit.
Agustin Lecchi / Agustín Mingorance / Alicia Montoya / Aníbal Rubén Mosquera / Carlos Alfredo Juárez Centeno / Carlos Zaidman / Carolina Palacio / Cristina Vera Livitsanos / Daniel Catalano / Diego Morales / Federico Fagioli / Fernando Rey / Gabriela Carpineti / Gustavo Palmieri / Ignacio Andrés / Ismael Jalil / Iván Wrobel / Juan Grabois / Juan Martín Hissa / Juan Monteverde / Juana Marisa Llanos / Leonardo Pérez Esquivel / Lisandro Ulises Arijon / Luis Arias / Manuel Alejandro Rivero / Marcos Norberto Novo / Marianela Navarro / Mario Andrés López / Martín Miguel Ferrari / Mauricio César Rojas Garrido / Natalia Zaracho / Pablo Garciarena / Pablo Pimentel / Roberto Carlés / Samanta Jimena Delgado / Sandra Carreño / Sergio Job / Sergio Smietniansky / Simeón Darian Casimiro / Victoria Freire
4 December 2019
