Santa Cruz threatens the recall process of the president of Bolivia

Thousands of opponents from the Bolivian city of Santa Cruzthey demanded this Wednesday to the leftist president Luis Arce amnesty the governor Luis Fernando Camacho and other political prisoners and, if he does not do so, they will push for the revocation of his mandate.

The opponents met in a town hall in a square in the city of Santa Cruz, the most populous in the country, to approve proposals suggested by the regional Civic Committee, an influential civil-business conglomerate.

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The president of the Civic Committee, Romulo Calvoread several proposals for citizens to respond affirmatively or negatively.

The president of the Civic Committee of Santa Cruz, Rómulo Calvo (c) before thousands of people in the national citizen council for “freedom and democracy”, on January 25, 2023, in the city of Santa Cruz, Bolivia. (Photo by Juan Carlos Torrejón / EFE) (Juan Carlos Torrejón /)

One of them was if Santa Cruz agrees to require Arce to “instruct and enable the approval of an amnesty law, so that within a period not exceeding 30 days, determine the release of Governor Luis Fernando Camacho and all political prisoners in the country”.

The people responded with a thunderous “yeah thumbs up!”.

Then Calvo consulted that if the government did not accept it, then they will promote from next May “a process to revoke the mandate of President Luis Arce”.

The people responded, in the same way, affirmatively.

The government of the leftist Arce, in power since November 2020 and political dolphin of the former president Evo Morales (2006-2019), did not issue any comments.

Camacho was imprisoned at the end of last December for a preventive period of four months, accused by the Prosecutor’s Office and the ruling party of being the ringleader of a so-called “coup” against Morales at the end of 2019.

Supporters of Santa Cruz Governor Luis Fernando Camacho participate in a national council demanding amnesty for political prisoners and Camacho, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, on January 25, 2023. (Photo by RODRIGO URZAGASTI / AFP) (RODRIGO URZAGASTI /)

The opposition also denounces that since Arce’s inauguration some 180 people, including civilians, police and military, have been detained, under the same accusation of having participated against Morales and having directed or participated in repression against the then Aymara ruler.

The council also asked the regional assembly, dominated by Camacho’s party, for a law to form a departmental guard, to replace the police who, they said, answer to the Executive branch.

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After the massive public assembly, there were sporadic clashes between civilians and police officers who were guarding the department’s police station, near the town hall, without leaving any injuries.

In other cities of the country, such as Peace, Oruro (west), potosi (southwest), Cochabamba (center) and Sucre (southeast) town councils were also held.

The common denominator was the defense of democracy, the reform of justice and the freedom of political prisoners.

Source: Elcomercio