Supporters of Arce and Evo accuse each other of creating a climate of violence while the former president’s march advances

LA PAZ.- A neighborhood on the outskirts of the neighboring city of El Alto, in Bolivia, was the scene of Strong clashes on Sunday between supporters of President Luis Arce and supporters of Evo Morales as an anti-government march led by the former president moves towards La Paz.

Supporters of the Bolivian president gathered on an avenue in the area Ventilla in El Alto for oppose Morales’s walkwhich began on Tuesday in the town of Caracollo, 190 kilometers to the south, and was scheduled to reach the capital on Monday.

People run amid tear gas fired by police during clashes between supporters of former President Evo Morales and current President Luis Arce in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. – Credits: @Juan Karita

There, other neighbors, supporters of Morales, harassed them to leave the place. Then, both sides clashed for hours with stones, sticks and firecrackers.

The police, who were slow to arrive at the scene of the incident, used tear gas to repel the clashes.

The Vice Minister of Citizen Security, Roberto Ríos, said that there are at least 3 injured. “40 to 50 people arrived, smashed banners and burned tires. The police intervened. Subsequently, these groups came in larger numbers and with greater aggressiveness. The Police have moved from different commands that we haveUTOP has arrived,” said the vice minister, quoted by The Duty.

Police fire tear gas during clashes between supporters of former President Evo Morales and current President Luis Arce in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. – Credits: @Juan Karita

The State Ombudsman, Pedro Callisaya, said that he verified “that neighbors are fighting, apparently with officials who would be harassing the population”.

“I want to ask the government to demobilize public officials“, he added. Callisaya urged the international community “to intervene with its good offices” on behalf of Bolivia.

Foreign Minister Celinda Sosa sent notes to the United Nations, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to inform them about the Bolivian situation.

Supporters of former President Evo Morales march to the capital to protest against the government of current President Luis Arce near El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. – Credits: @Juan Karita

”We observed a threat and siege of a violent march led by former President Evo Morales Aymawhich is heading towards the city of La Paz, the seat of the Bolivian government. This mobilization is not aimed at social protest, its primary objective is to interrupt the current constitutional mandate,” Sosa stated in his letters.

Morales has been leading a 190-kilometer walk with thousands of his followers for several days, which he called “March to save Bolivia” with which he seeks to protest the country’s economic crisis and demand more than anything his qualification as a leader and presidential candidate of the ruling Movement Towards Socialism (MAS), which keeps him in open dispute with Arce. Both are fighting for control of the party apparatus ahead of the 2025 presidential elections.

The column led by Morales was currently spending the night a few kilometers from the Ventilla neighborhood, where the clashes took place. Groups close to the government warned that They will not allow the advance, although the supporters of the former president plan to enter La Paz on Monday.

Supporters of Bolivian President Luis Arce block the way for supporters of former President Evo Morales as they march toward the capital to protest against Arce’s government in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. – Credits: @Juan Karita

The Constitutional Court issued a ruling almost a year ago that disqualifies Morales from running again after having governed Bolivia for 14 years (2006-2019)while the Supreme Electoral Tribunal does not recognize a party congress in which Morales’ supporters ratified him as their chief and leader. Another pro-government group does not recognize Morales and recognizes Arce’s leadership. The former president blames Arce for manipulating justice to disqualify him.

Until Sunday, attempts at dialogue between the two factions had failed. “If Arce wants to talk, he should come to the march, he shouldn’t just wait there sitting down”Morales said.

Arce publicly accused Morales a week ago of trying to stir up the country to force his resignation for “personal reasons” and challenged him to settle their differences in a face-to-face meeting.

Analysts say the confrontation between the two leaders has plunged the ruling party into its worst crisis and threatens the hegemony of the party that has been in power for 18 years. In 2019, Morales was forced to resign after allegations of fraud arose in that year’s elections in which he was seeking a third re-election. After the interim term of center-right opposition senator Jeanine Áñez, the MAS won the elections and returned to power with Arce, Morales’ former economy minister for a decade.

AP and AFP agencies