BOLIVIA: AUTHORITIES MUST RESPECT THE RIGHT TO PEACEFUL PROTEST

Erika Guevara Rosas, Director for the Americas of Amnesty International, has expressed concern about the response of the Bolivian authorities to the demonstrations, which has been extremely alarming

In response to the Bolivian authorities’ repressive reaction to demonstrations by people who believe there was fraud in the recent elections, Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas director at Amnesty International, said:

“Instead of replicating the sad scenes of violent repression that we have seen in great swathes of Latin America in recent weeks, the Evo Morales administration must guarantee the Bolivian people’s right to peaceful protest.”

“So far, the Bolivian authorities’ response to the demonstrations has been deeply alarming and has shown contempt for human rights. We are monitoring their actions and urge them to avoid the excessive use of force.”

“We also condemn the attacks against human rights defenders, including Waldo Albarracín, rector of the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés in La Paz and a well-known human rights defender, who suffered an act of violence while demonstrating yesterday.”