The Bolivian government this Monday ordered the Armed Forces and the Police protect public services, strategic infrastructure and convoys of medical supplies, after a week of roadblocks in protest at the postponement of the elections.
“From this Monday the Armed Forces and the National Police will fulfill the constitutional mission of protect public institutions, strategic infrastructure, such as airports and gas plants “said the Minister of the Presidency, Yerko Núñez.
The uniformed men will also guard the provision of oxygen and other medical supplies who cannot reach hospitals due to roadblocks, he added.
According to the government, the lack of oxygen – due to the blockade of routes – caused the death last week of 31 patients with covid-19.
Defense Minister Luis Fernando Peredo said separately that the military will guard a convoy of trucks with more than 60 tons of oxygen from the city of Santa Cruz towards Cochabamba, La Paz and Oruro.
Santa Cruz produces oxygen for the rest of the Bolivian cities, where hospitals eagerly await their provision amid the pandemic, which has left to date 3,640 deceased and 90,000 infected in the country.
The convoy must cross the coca-growing region of Chapare, in Cochabamba, the stronghold of former leftist leader Evo Morales (2006-2019), and other roads where there are blockades.
López assured that the government will act firmly against roadblocks by neighbors, peasants and indigenous people loyal to Morales. “Pants and firmness are not lacking”, he claimed.
Since Monday of last week there are blockades across the country, where social movements denounce that the postponement of the elections, decided by the electoral body because of the pandemic, seeks to harm the candidate of the Movimiento Al Socialismo (MAS), Morales’ party.
Luis Arce, MAS candidate, tops the polls, followed by former centrist president Carlos Mesa and right-wing interim president Jeanine Áñez.
The electoral court postponed the elections from September 6 to October 18. Is the second postponement of the presidential and legislative elections for the pandemic, initially set for May 3.
Earlier, the heads of the Armed Forces and the Police warned that there is a climate of confrontation in the country and they called for dialogue to achieve pacification.
The head of the Armed Forces, General Sergio Orellana, said that they have detected the presence of “Groups of people with weapons” and that “that is terrorism.”
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