In recent days, in addition to Chile, violent riots are also shaking Bolivia. The police and military repression is in full swing. The cause? The controversial result of the presidential elections. Evo Morales, who has been at the head of the country for 14 years, is back in the first round, after a questionable interruption of votes during the count and the antecedents that have tired the population of his country.
To find out more, we asked the Bolivian producer Funeral to explain the state of the situation. This is what he sent us:
Original version in Spanish below.
The Bolivian people have taken to the streets to demand democracy.
Evo Morales has been president of Bolivia since 2006, which is more than 14 CONSECUTIVE YEARS, something that is not only illegal but also an insult to the will of the Bolivian people.
Origins of the crisis: the year 2016
He made a referendum to change the Constitution and thus be able to run for office for the fourth time. He then ignored the decision of the majority of the people who voted no, and made the Constitutional Court act to recognize his re-nomination as “human right.” And so it was done.
In July 2019, forest fires began in the Bolivian Amazon. This fact shone a light on Morales, now judging him as an inconsequential actor, responsible for the tragedy that destroyed Bolivian forests for the sake of industrialization, export of livestock and personal interest.
Now:
After the election day of October 20 2019, once the polling booth were closed, the first results were issued after a quick count by the TSE. 83% of the counted polls showed 45.28% of votes in favor of Morales and 38.16% of votes in favor of the second candidate, Carlos Mesa. Until that moment the second round was imminent (in Bolivia, a candidate can win as long as he gets 40% of the votes and takes advantage of 10% to the second).
That same night, the TSE had the task of presenting 95% of the count made, however, a 24-hour informational blackout sowed doubt and uncertainty in the expectant population. “What is happening?”. In a shocking move, the most powerful man in the country addressed the nation to proclaim the impossibility of a second-round and thus celebrated a new victory.
But Bolivian citizens did not remain calm. The trust towards the TSE had already been damaged in 2018 with the resignation of its president and the entry of officials related to the MAS (Movimiento Al Socialismo, Evo Morales’ political party).
The blackout ceased, and by that time Evo took a 10.1% advantage to Carlos Mesa, thus officially avoiding the second round. After 3 days of waiting and conflicts, the opposition and the general population were eager to ignore the apparent victory of Morales.
Even the audit of the OAS was requested. Their observers pointed out the irregularities of the counting process and suggested the completion of a second round.
All this only generated discontent among the people of Morales, leading them to denounce an attempted coup d’etat caused by the opposition, excusing their indigenous nature for the “hatred” of the people.
“Today, Thursday, October 24, the counting results are 100%, designating Morales as the only winner with an advantage of more than 10% but the Bolivian population does not accept it that way. It is not a collective illusion, circumstantial and tangible evidence of latent and feared fraud has already been presented. The count has been manipulated in favor of the indigenous president, thus establishing a war against the people, the same people who elected him in 2006 and that 2019 will dismiss him. ”
(Source: The Washington Post)
The street was taken by young people, an unexpected event, university students and young adults not far from the age of 30 have taken the streets of the 9 cities of the country as a protest. “It’s not about supporting Carlos Mesa (who remained the most popular president candidate), we want Evo out.” This shone a light on the voting mentality which was not a vote in favour of the second candidate, it was a punishment for the mishandled feats of Evo Morales and his government.
Beyond that, those protests were the expression of a generation born in democracy but who has not forgotten the struggle of their parents and grandparents to achieve it. Today, with new tools and a context that would not allow the abuses committed generations before, young people have come to defend not only their rights but also their dreams and efforts. “Now it’s our turn, we are not the future, we are the present”.
Clashes between civilians and police, fire at the electoral courts, civic strikes, peaceful marches, but above all a lot of unity among the protesters.
That is the situation in Bolivia. There is fear and uncertainty, but hope, which runs through the different countries of South America that are in crisis, has made its way to the heart of this part of the world.
Regular updates of the situation in Funeral’s Instagram stories.
El pueblo boliviano ha tomado las calles para exigir democracia.
Evo Morales es presidente de Bolivia desde el año 2006, eso son mas de 14 AÑOS CONSECUTIVOS, cosa que no solo es ilegal sino tambien un insulto hacia la voluntad del pueblo boliviano.
Orígenes de la crisis: el año 2016.
Hizo un referéndum para cambiar la Constitución y así poder presentarse una cuarta vez a las elecciones. No conforme con los resultados de dicho referéndum, desconoció la decisión de la mayoría del pueblo e hizo actuar al Tribunal Constitucional para reconocer como “derecho humano” su re postulación. Y así se hizo.
En Julio del 2019 iniciaron los incendios forestales en la amazonía boliviana. Este hecho puso el ojo sobre Morales, juzgándolo ahora como un actor inconsecuente, responsable de la tragedia que destruía los bosques bolivianos para la industrialización y exportación de ganado.
El ahora:
Después de la jornada electoral del 20 de octubre del presente año, una vez cerradas las mesas, se emitieron los primeros resultados después de un conteo rápido realizado por el TSE. El 83% de las mesas computadas mostraban un 45,28% de votos a favor de Morales y un 38,16% de votos a favor del segundo candidato, Carlos Mesa. Hasta ese momento la segunda vuelta se hacía inminente (en Bolivia, un candidato puede ganar siempre y cuando consiga el 40% de los votos y lleve ventaja del 10 % al segundo).
Esa misma noche, el TSE tenía la tarea de presentar el 95% del conteo realizado, sin embargo, un apagón informativo de 24 horas sembró la duda e incertidumbre en la población expectante “¿Qué está pasando?”. Ante la conmoción y confusión, el primer hombre de la nación se expresó proclamando la imposibilidad de una segunda vuelta y así, celebrando una nueva victoria.
Pero la ciudadanía boliviana no se quedó tranquila. La confianza hacia el TSE había sido dañada ya, el 2018, con la renuncia de su presidenta y el ingreso de funcionarios afines al MAS.
El apagón cesó, y para ese momento Evo le llevaba una ventaja de 10,1% a Carlos Mesa, evitando así la segunda vuelta. Después de 3 días de espera y conflictos, la oposición y la población en general se inclinaron por desconocer la aparente victoria de Morales.
Inclusive se solicitó la auditoria de la OEA, cuyos veedores señalaron las irregularidades del proceso de conteo y sugirieron la realización de una segunda vuelta.
Todo esto sólo generó descontento entre la gente de Morales, llevándolos a denunciar un intento de golpe de estado propiciado por la oposición, excusando su naturaleza indígena para el “odio” de la gente.
“Hoy jueves 24 de octubre los resultados del conteo se encuentran al 100%, designando a Morales como único ganador con una ventaja de más del 10% pero la población boliviana no lo acepta así. No se trata de una ilusión colectiva, ya se han presentado pruebas circunstanciales y tangibles del latente y temido fraude. El conteo ha sido manipulado a favor del presidente indígena, estableciendo así una guerra contra el pueblo, el mismo pueblo que lo eligió el 2006 y que el 2019 lo destituirá”.
(Fuente: The Washington Post)
Las calles tomadas por los jóvenes: Un suceso no esperado, estudiantes universitarios y jóvenes adultos no lejos de los 30 años han tomado las calles de las 9 ciudades del país a modo de protesta. “No se trata de apoyar a Carlos Mesa (el candidato a presidente con mayor popularidad), queremos a Evo fuera”. Este no fue un voto a favor del segundo candidato, fue un castigo a las mal manejadas hazañas de Evo Morales y su gobierno.
Una generación nacida en democracia pero que no ha olvidado la lucha de sus padres y abuelos por la consecución de la misma. Hoy, con nuevas herramientas y un contexto que no permitiría los atropellos cometidos en otras épocas, los jóvenes han salido a defender no sólo sus derechos, si no también sus sueños y esfuerzos. “Ahora nos toca a nosotros”, “no somos el futuro, somos el presente”.
Enfrentamientos entre civiles y policías, incendios a los tribunales electorales, paros cívicos, marchas pacíficas, pero sobre todo mucha unión.
Esa es la coyuntura de Bolivia. Existe miedo e incertidumbre, pero una esperanza, que recorre los distintos países de Sudamérica que están en crisis, se ha hecho camino hasta el corazón de esta parte del mundo.
