Evo Morales
@evoespueblo · South America
Evo Morales is followed by Storyz World for government and public service coverage connected to Bolivia in the South America chapter.
I inform the Bolivian people and the international community that this morning, while we were conducting our program through Radio Kawsachun Coca to comment on the audio recording of the conversation between Minister "Tuco" Oviedo and Fernando Cerimedo, Entel’s internet service was cut off. We strongly reject the cutoff of telecommunications and basic services as a mechanism of censorship and coercion against the people. This act, along with other similar ones carried out in San Julian, the Cochabamba Tropics and other regions of the country, constitutes crimes against humanity that must be investigated. Apparently, Cerimedo continues to run the government from prison.
Translated from SpanishThe exposed audio recordings about the repression in San Julián demonstrate three serious things: 1. The government of Rodrigo Paz is subordinate to the orders of Fernando Cerimedo. It is a disgrace and a serious violation of our sovereignty that a foreign adviser should determine how to repress our people and suspend basic services and telecommunications. Bolivia is nobody's colony. No foreigner can give orders about the lives, safety and rights of Bolivian women and men. 2. It is confirmed that it is the government that practices state terrorism, narco-terrorism and crimes against humanity through cutting off electricity and telecommunications to intimidate a region, mass and arbitrary arrests, and the organization of paramilitary actions hired by Minister Oscar Mario Justiniano, demonstrating that the Government plans, promotes and carries out the violation of rights and disproportionate repression. 3. The government's financing outside the law: Where did the money come from to mobilize 400 paramilitaries who took part in clashes against civilians? With what money does Minister Justiniano negotiate with or buy off protest leaders in order to demobilize the protests?
Translated from SpanishThe state of exception was unconstitutional and incompatible with international standards. But the most serious thing is that those who imposed it are the first to break their own rules. First, the Judicial Branch threatened to paralyze the justice system while demanding more funding, and now the Assembly is initiating constitutional reforms prohibited during the state of exception. So the real objective is clear: the state of exception was not meant to protect the people, but to impose the diesel price shock on producers and submission agreements with the IMF; using the law to repress the people and legalize austerity.
Translated from SpanishThe government's constitutional reform proposal and that of its political allies has three objectives: the first, to protect and cover up for Rodrigo Paz; the second, to serve as a smokescreen for the allegations of corruption, drug trafficking, smuggling, and the Cerimedo case; and third, to remove from the Constitution the articles that guarantee the sovereignty of all Bolivian women and men over strategic companies, in order to once again hand our natural resources over to transnational corporations and privatize basic services (loss of economic, political, and legal sovereignty through international arbitration). Furthermore, just as when Bolivia was refounded as the Plurinational State, any constitutional reform must be carried out through a Constituent Assembly and with the approval of the people through a referendum. We are aware that our constitution must be improved in order to move forward, not backward, and never behind closed doors and with our backs turned to the people.
Translated from SpanishThe explosion at the Bolívar Regiment in Viacha has plunged several families of humble soldiers who were fulfilling their duty to serve Bolivia into mourning. The irresponsibility with which the government has handled that sad event is nothing more than a war crime that merits a complaint before the International Criminal Court, and the prosecutor’s office should act on its own initiative immediately. At this time, it is very important to honor the accident insurance approved during my administration for soldiers performing compulsory military service. The government must provide the victims’ parents with the corresponding financial resources, at least 3,000 dollars in the event of an accident and transport expenses. In addition, it is stipulated that a conscript who loses his life while performing his service must be promoted to the rank of sergeant so that the family receives the corresponding salary for two years.
Translated from SpanishWith deep pain and consternation, we learned about the explosion at the Bolívar Regiment in Viacha. All our solidarity goes to the families of the injured and deceased, to our soldiers, and to the sisters and brothers affected by this disaster. The Government must guarantee a prompt and transparent investigation to clarify this tragedy that has plunged the homeland into mourning.
Translated from SpanishThe country woke up to the highest exchange rate since liberalization. The promises of former minister Espinoza, who claimed that the market would regulate itself and the dollar would stabilize at Bs. 11, are behind us. The government announces that the Central Bank will intervene again using the reserves. In other words, they first dismantled monetary policy and handed control of the exchange rate to private banks; now they want to put out the fire using the few reserves the country has left. The available dollar reserves are minimal; they are not even enough to cover outstanding obligations for fuel imports, without counting other state obligations. The government must tell the country: where will the dollars come from to stabilize the exchange rate, pay the bonds, import fuel, and sustain the economy? If the answer is once again more debt, we are not looking at a solution. It is the same recipe as Arceism: paying one debt with another, each time more expensive, while the bill ultimately falls on the people.
Translated from SpanishNine months of the Paz government’s submission to the Pentagon, the IMF and the State Department, promising financing and investment. And what is the result? The only U.S. investment that arrives is shields and dry rations for the Armed Forces. Neither production, nor public works, nor development for the people. In exchange for a few military donations, the Government surrenders sovereignty and opens the door to the plunder of our natural resources.
Translated from SpanishThe neocolonial and neoliberal government of Paz has shown its true aggressive, discriminatory, racist, classist, life-hostile, and servile-to-the-empire face; it criminalizes protest and judicializes politics in order, according to Paz, to make a novel, its own narrative, and assemble speeches. Rodrigo Paz says: “what if the first action is against the Chapare, against the cancer that is metastasizing”. A good president should act as the father of all Bolivian women and men. With messages of hatred and contempt, unfortunately Paz is not up to governing; he is not thinking about how to solve the country’s problems. Bolivia and the world already know that, at bottom, the state of exception was only to intervene in the Tropics and attack Evo. Instead of planning a state of exception within the constitutional framework, with the political cabinet, military commanders, and police commanders, they are doing it with a foreigner; that is treason against the homeland. I call on Bolivian women and men to unite to defend and save the people; there is no other path. We will resist, we will live, and we will triumph!
Translated from SpanishGrateful to the Continental Central of Education Workers for the support and solidarity in safeguarding our lives, as well as for rejecting the statements of the new police commander.
Translated from SpanishThe statements by the new National Police Commander expose the political pressure coming from the Paz Government and its megacoalition, which is subjugated to U.S. interests. Amid a deep economic crisis, fuel shortages, and corruption scandals with international reach, the government’s priority is political trials. This demonstrates that, faced with their inability to solve the people’s problems, they seek to persecute and prosecute their adversaries in court in order to divert attention and continue governing through persecution.
Translated from SpanishTrump thinks he is bombing Iran, but in reality he is bombing the economy of his own people and of the world. While he announces that he will fill the strategic reserve with Venezuelan oil, after militarily intervening in that nation, a new U.S. attack drives up the prices of fuel, fertilizers, and food. Trump seeks to save his economy with wars, interventions, and interference, violating human rights. It is not only a war against Iran; it is an act of irresponsibility that hits the global economy and puts all humanity at risk.
Translated from SpanishThe Quechua UNIBOL “Casimiro Huanca” is the pride of our Democratic and Cultural Revolution, and the country's best Indigenous university, but this government and its Education Minister are attacking institutional integrity and transparency by trying to impose, through political quota-sharing, a rector with a serious record of corruption. By freezing its bank accounts and leaving more than 600 students without food, they are committing a criminal act punishable by law and a flagrant violation of human rights that must not go unpunished; we demand respect for the dignity and well-being of our youth.
Translated from SpanishThe minister of the presidency publicly acknowledged that Supreme Decree No. 5676 of the "dieselazo" was an IMF condition; we are sure that the elimination of the Ministry of Planning was as well. It is a disgrace that the administration of Rodrigo Paz, led by Fernando Cerimedo, is planned from Washington. Within weeks there will be a new "gasolinazo," and for 2027 the "garrafazo" has already been announced, which will raise the price of a gas cylinder to 130 Bs., meaning a devastating blow to our economy. It hurts to see that, because of this government's hunger policies, humble families are taking their daughters and sons out of school and young people are abandoning university. Extreme poverty already exceeds 50% of the population. Unfortunately, the so-called "structural adjustment" is always loaded onto the backs of the humblest and hardest-working people. I call for the unity and solidarity of the Bolivian people in the face of this government's neoliberal policies.
Translated from SpanishIn due time, we warned that Rodrigo Paz is a president by accident, and now that is being demonstrated. The people remember that for 14 years, projects were delivered every day; now, every day brings a new act of corruption. Before, there was economic activity in favor of the people; now, only those who govern and their families are enriching themselves. The state of exception was decreed only to steal and consolidate privatization. Yesterday we learned that the person who governed, Fernando Cerimedo, had transferred more than 200 million U.S. dollars into his digital account, and previously, his partner denounced that all shady deals pass through the president's wife's “single window.” Likewise, it is public knowledge that ministers are involved in illegal matters, but are untouchable because they paid multimillion-dollar sums to reach office. We demonstrated with commitment, consciousness, effort and work that a better Bolivia was possible, where nothing was lacking; we did politics for the homeland, for the new generations. Thanks to our Democratic and Cultural Revolution, Bolivia was recognized and respected in the world; now, with such cases of corruption, the image of our country has been badly affected before other countries, international organizations and cooperation agencies. Before, we governed with our principles of ama sua, ama llulla ama quella; by contrast, Rodrigo Paz governs under the sole principle of “suwana enthirunta”.
Translated from SpanishThe Bolivian right wing, which negotiated shares of power in Rodrigo Paz’s government and his ministerial cabinet, is in complete disarray, cornered by serious allegations of corruption, drug trafficking, femicide, contract killing, illicit enrichment, and other crimes they are trying to cover up. Ministers and deputy ministers are resigning, and their requests are not being accepted; others are resigning irrevocably. They invent any excuse to leave, but the truth is that they are fleeing so as not to become accomplices of the sewer government and the handing over of our natural resources to transnational corporations. But the Bolivian people are wise and have a memory; we must remain more united than ever to resist and save our beloved Bolivia once again.
Translated from SpanishHistory and data demonstrate how the export-oriented free-market model (1996–2005) handed over ownership of our hydrocarbons, leaving Bolivia with just 18% of the profits and 82% for the transnational corporations. With the “Héroes del Chaco” Supreme Decree, we nationalized the hydrocarbons and reversed the balance: 82% for the Bolivian people and only 18% for the transnational corporations; we recovered sovereignty over our natural resources. The State assumed control to redistribute wealth. The results of our Economic Model are undeniable. While during the privatization period the country received only US$4 billion, between 2006 and 2019 we generated US$40 billion in oil revenue. Likewise, as of December 2006, our gas reserves were 9 TCF; between 2007 and 2018, we used 7.6 TCF and, acting responsibly, left 10 TCF of proven gas reserves in 2018 (certified by the Canadian company Sproule), achieved 26 new discoveries such as Incahuasi, and invested US$2.6 billion in exploration, replenishing more gas than we consumed. We had a clear horizon for continued growth, left more than US$8.3 billion in committed exploration investment, and had 18 laws approved to guarantee the development of the hydrocarbon sector. Unfortunately, the disastrous 2019 coup d’état brought everything to a halt, destroying strategic planning and abruptly stopping the economic engine of our nation. Today, those who destroyed the economy are trying to rewrite history to blame our government. But the Bolivian people have a memory and know that when we govern for the humblest and are masters of our own destiny, with sovereignty and dignity, Bolivia has a future. Just as we recovered our natural resources once, united we will once again save the economy of our beloved homeland.
Translated from SpanishIran is an example of the dignity of a people in the face of the Empire. Its sovereign technological development made it possible to reduce the enormous military asymmetry, its people resisted psychological warfare and disinformation in unity, and its strategic planning responded to the financial and economic pressure from the U.S. The Empire can impose sanctions, threats, and wars, but it cannot subjugate the will of a sovereign people, because while it wears itself down in weapons wars, Iran demonstrates that sovereignty can also win the economic war.
Translated from Spanish
Connected stories
- Third Body Found After Explosions at Bolivia’s Viacha Military Base
- Most Asian Markets Fall as Oil Surges Nearly 3% After U.S. Strike on Iran
- Bolivia Diesel Protest Strands 200 Vehicles on Beni–Santa Cruz Route
- Bolivia Plans IMF Deal Bill Within Days, Targets September Disbursement
- Bolivia Removes Economy Minister After Legislative Censure
- Iran Warns Countries Joining U.S. Economic War Will Be Treated as Enemies