A court in Bolivia has sentenced former President Jeanine Áñez to 10 years in prison after finding her guilty of orchestrating the 2019 coup that ousted President Evo Morales, Bolivia’s first Indigenous president. After the coup, Áñez served as Bolivia’s president for one year until November 2020. Áñez, who is a former right-wing senator, was convicted of making “decisions contrary to the constitution.” A former Bolivian Army commander and police commander were also sentenced to jail for their role in the coup.
Meanwhile, at the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, a protester interrupted a presentation last week by Luis Almagro, the head of the Organization of American States, over his support for the 2019 coup.
Luis Almagro: “… eliminated impunity, and eliminated the impunity” —
Walter Smolarek: “Luis Almagro, you have blood on your hands! Because of your lies, there was a coup in Bolivia, a coup against a democratically elected government. And that dictatorship that you helped install massacred 36 people” —
Luis Almagro: “You are completely wrongly informed.”
Walter Smolarek: — “36 innocent people who were protesting” —
Luis Almagro: “You are completely wrongly informed.”
Walter Smolarek: — “for the restoration of their democracy —
Luis Almagro: “You are completely wrongly informed.”
Walter Smolarek: — “for the restoration of the independence of their country.”
Luis Almagro: “You are completely wrongly informed.”
Walter Smolarek: “In the towns of Sacaba and Senkata” —
Luis Almagro: “You are completely wrongly informed.”
Walter Smolarek: — “people were protesting peacefully” —
Luis Almagro: “You are completely wrongly informed.”
Walter Smolarek: — “Indigenous people, workers, women, students.”