Clashes Between Police And Morales Supporters In Bolivia Leave Nearly 30 Injured
Nearly 30 people were injured on Tuesday during clashes between Bolivian police and supporters of former President Evo Morales in the central town of Mairana, according to government reports.
The confrontations erupted as protesters, who have been blocking roads since October 14, rallied to prevent Morales’s potential arrest.
Bolivia’s Health Minister, Maria Rene Castro, reported that 29 people were injured, with police officers making up the majority of the injured.
According to the Santa Cruz police chief, officers were attacked by some protesters during the confrontation.
Morales, who led Bolivia from 2006 to 2019, is under investigation for alleged offenses involving rape, human trafficking, and smuggling in connection with a reported relationship with a minor in 2015.
He claims the charges are politically motivated, aiming to block his return to power.
His supporters, largely Indigenous, have condemned what they see as judicial persecution by current President Luis Arce, a former ally turned political rival.
The protests also address rising fuel and food prices affecting the nation.
The tension escalated over the weekend when Morales accused government agents of attempting to assassinate him while he was traveling near Cochabamba.
