Currently in Bolivia there is an escalation of violence and human rights violations that are manifested in the actions that the current government has been carrying out against the popular movement and the indigenous peasant organizations.

This scenario of political crisis is characterized by actions, such as those of last October 27, in the Cochabamba Tropics region, where an attempted assassination of former President Evo Morales was perpetrated, an event that has not been clarified by government authorities and where leaders and directors have identified and documented the interference of the DEA, which is acting in coordination with current government agencies.

The various forms of protest against the ongoing economic crisis and the levels of interference and criminalization of the popular movement have been harshly repressed since the military, police, and paramilitary groups that were part of the 2019 coup d'état intervened. These actions have been aimed at hunting down leaders and activists to make an example of the Indigenous, Peasant, and Popular movement, as evidenced by what happened in Pirque Parotani on November 1st, when more than 100 peasant leaders and activists were arrested as a strategy to intimidate the Bolivian people and decapitate social organizations. This process has been carried out using laws and decrees approved during the de facto government of the self-proclaimed Añez.

Under these fascist laws, leaders and activists are being accused of terrorism. This is the case of Humberto Claros, a leader of the CSUTCB, who was kidnapped by civilians on November 14 in the city of Quillacollo, Cochabamba Department. Ramiro Cucho, the national leader of CONAMAQ, is in the same situation, having been detained and charged with terrorism. Hundreds of other leaders and activists have also been arbitrarily imprisoned.

Likewise, a persecution has been initiated against members and researchers from CLACSO member centers who participate in the CLACSO Working Groups on Geopolitics, Regional Integration and
World system and United States StudiesThis is the case of Juan Ramón de la Quintana, accused of “terrorism and armed insurrection” due to his analysis and reporting in the media on the situation in Bolivia. These acts of persecution have affected the integrity of the Democracy and Security Observatory, a research center with a library of over 4 books, which is currently sealed off, through a raid and the confiscation of documents and equipment.

This situation is worrying for the international left and calls on us to speak out against this policy of persecution and criminalization, which are part of a culture of terror. The left cannot commit itself to a battle to dismember the Indigenous people, a battle allied with the empire that seeks to seize control of Plurinational Bolivia and silence the voices of those who denounce in the media what is happening in Plurinational Bolivia.

In this context, as researchers and members of the Working Groups of the Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO), we stand in solidarity with the Bolivian people and express our deep concern about the circumstances in which they intend to bring to justice former President Evo Morales, and the leaders and activists who are detained and persecuted.

In light of these events, we demand that the authorities of the various branches of the Plurinational State of Bolivia respect and guarantee all human rights, and conduct themselves in accordance with due process, protecting the integrity of our colleague Juan Ramón Quintana, as well as the leaders and directors of the social movements who are still detained and accused.

Finally, we advocate for a peaceful resolution to political disputes so that the Plurinational State can return to its origins and to the construction of its project as a sovereign, just nation in favor of the majority.

November 25th 2024
CLACSO Working Groups
Critical studies of rural development
Socio-territorial movements in critical and comparative perspective
Borders, regionalization and globalization
Latin American and Caribbean critical geographical thought

This statement expresses the position of the aforementioned Working Groups and not necessarily that of the centers and institutions that make up the CLACSO international network, its Steering Committee or its Executive Secretariat.