Bolivian police detain main opposition leader, sparking protests in Santa Cruz – National | 24CA News

Police on Wednesday detained Luis Fernando Camacho, the principle opposition chief in Bolivia who can also be governor of the Santa Cruz area, a dramatic motion that shortly led to renewed social unrest.

Camacho was detained as a part of a case during which he’s accused of main what the federal government characterizes as a coup in 2019, the Chief Prosecutor’s Office stated. Opposition leaders problem the coup label, arguing these occasions have been solely protests that led to the resignation of then-President Evo Morales.

The governor’s allies shortly took to the streets, blocking roads in Santa Cruz in addition to a freeway that joins the area with the remainder of the nation. Photos posted on social media confirmed lengthy strains at gasoline stations amid worries the renewed unrest may result in shortages.

It took a number of hours for any official phrase on what expenses led to the detention of Camacho, whose area is Bolivia’s wealthiest and a stronghold of the opposition.

Earlier, Government Minister Carlos Eduardo del Castillo wrote on social media solely, “We inform the Bolivian people that police have fulfilled a detention order against Mr. Luis Fernando Camacho.”

Shortly after the motion, the Santa Cruz governorship stated in a news launch that Camacho was “kidnapped in an absolutely irregular police operation and was taken to an unknown location.”

Camacho was detained close to his dwelling, the news launch stated.

Several opposition leaders additionally shortly spoke up towards the detention, together with former President Carlos Mesa, who known as it a “violent and illegal kidnapping.”

The Chief Prosecutor’s Office denied the detention was something of the kind or political persecution, saying it was completed underneath an order issued in October and stemmed from proceedings that started in 2020 with the “full knowledge” of the governor.

Camacho has repeatedly denied all accusations towards him, saying he’s the sufferer of political persecution. He has refused to endure questioning by prosecutors, saying there’s a lack of ensures of honest remedy.

Video of the arrest posted on social media confirmed the conservative Camacho handcuffed on the aspect of the street alongside legislation enforcement officers holding firearms.

Martin Camacho, the governor’s lawyer, instructed the native newspaper El Deber that his consumer was being taken to the capital of La Paz to reply questions in instances opened towards him.

Video posted on social media confirmed dozens of his supporters descending on two native airports to attempt to impede the governor’s switch, though it was unclear whether or not he was nonetheless there.

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The authorities has launched a number of judicial actions towards Camacho, together with one for having known as for a strike towards the nationwide administration of President Luis Arce in November, which lasted 36 days. He is going through accusations of sedition, treason and corruption, amongst others.

Camacho is the chief of the opposition alliance Creemos (“We Believe”).

His function as head of the opposition was cemented in November, when he led the strike towards the federal government. The motion pressed calls for {that a} nationwide census be carried out in 2023, which might probably give Santa Cruz extra tax income and seats in Congress and subsequently extra affect within the nation’s political selections.

Camacho was additionally a pacesetter within the massive protests in 2019 that compelled Morales from energy following elections that the Organization of American States stated have been marred by fraud. Morales was looking for his fourth consecutive reelection.

The 2019 protests led to social unrest that resulted in 37 deaths and pushed Bolivia into its most severe institutional disaster of current years.

Politi reported from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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