The experts pointed out that Evo Morales was skillful and could do politics after his resignation, and that both Jeanine Añez and her Ministers “were too naively trusting.”
Photo: Archive.
22 July 2021
Analysts: Persecution strategy was effective and silenced the opposition
Political analysts agreed that the strategy of prosecutions and imprisonment of former authorities, former military, and police chiefs, and representatives of the opposition was effective. With these actions, the Government managed to silence the opponents of the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS).
After the victory of President Luis Arce, the Prosecutor’s Office began the proceedings of the alleged “coup d’État.” After the subnational elections, arrest warrants and citations were carried out against opponents. The first to be arrested in March were former President Jeanine Añez and her former Ministers Alvaro Coimbra and Rodrigo Guzman.
Then came the capture of leaders of the Cochabamba Youth Resistance, police, military, and former officials of the Government and Defense Ministries. In turn, they opened cases against other opposition leaders.
Due to this, a commission of deputies and senators from Creemos and Comunidad Ciudadana (CC) traveled to the United States to denounce before international organizations “political persecution and violation of human rights” unleashed by the Government of Arce.
Political scientist Carlos Cordero explained that there are four types of opposition. The first, citizens, which was mobilized in 2019; the second, those who are in the Plurinational Legislative Assembly (ALP); the third, the regional authorities and the fourth, the political leaders.
Cordero explained that these four sectors were completely annulled due to the processes and the imprisonment of former authorities and former police and military chiefs.
«In the case of political representatives in the Legislative [Assembly] there is inexperience and they do what they can. Regional authorities are focused on their management and if they want to do politics, [legal] proceedings are activated against them. The rest are intimidated, judicially persecuted,” he pointed out.
Political analyst Ludwing Valverde argued that the opposition still does not have a country agenda and a rapprochement with the citizens, which means that in the near future they will become functional to the ruling party, and in future elections, it may be the greatest strength of the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS).
“The judicial processes have managed to lower the profile of the opposition, that strategy has been effective. It cannot be denied that there is political persecution and a strategy to annul everyone who is against the MAS, and it is also done in an exemplary way, we can see this with the arrests of former authorities,” he explained.
Evo was more skilled than the opposition
After Evo Morales resigned, he made sure to leave the country to an allied nation, such as Mexico, at first. Later to Argentina, where was located his political operation center for the 2020 electoral campaign.
Despite the fact that international conventions establish that asylees or refugees cannot engage in politics, the Mexican and Argentine administrations breached these treaties. This allowed Morales to engage in politics, constantly criticize the transitional government, and promote the narrative of the “coup d’État.”
Added to this was the parliamentary representation of the MAS, which was in opposition to the temporary administration. Even, at that time, those who were in charge of the Government denounced the Plurinational Legislative Assembly’s obstacles.
“Morales was more skilled than Añez, he had many friends in Latin America. He also had more human and financial resources behind him. Mrs. Jeanine Añez made mistakes, such as postponing the elections and becoming a candidate, and that condemned her politically,” said Cordero.
Valverde asserted that the former President was too naively trusting and was poorly advised because she ran for both the presidential and subnational elections when she did not have support. He added that she was fooled by the acceptance she had when she assumed the Presidency, believing that this support was going to take shape at the polls. This also worked against the division of the opposition.
Source: https://www.paginasiete.bo/nacional/2021/7/22/analistas-estrategia-de-persecucion-fue-efectiva-silencio-la-oposicion-301771.html
