The political situation in Bolivia continues to heat up. Rodrigo Paz tries to break the resistance. The roadblocks remain firm and have even defeated the armed forces once again. This has reinforced the dictatorial policy of selective kidnappings of dozens of leaders. A real aberration that we strongly repudiate and call for international solidarity to continue surrounding the Bolivian revolution.

By César Latorre

Yesterday the escalation of selective kidnappings increased. Five leaders of the COB were kidnapped in the middle of the street. Hooded people without identification or warrant gassed the interior of a vehicle in which they were traveling to force them to leave. There are also videos of torture of the detainees that violate all international treaties to which Bolivia adheres. In addition, a list with more than thirty names for the police to seize was also released early this morning.

We demand the immediate release of all prisoners. This cannot be allowed and we have to face the greatest international campaign as an essential contribution to the defeat of this puppet government of imperialism that intends to establish a civil-military dictatorship in Bolivia.

Context and recent events

As we have analyzed in previous articles, this revolution (this may bother those who downsize it calling it a “rebellion”) took the politics of this puppet government to the grinder of class struggle. However, a few days after Rodrigo Paz lost his balance, he changed the head of defense to carry out a repressive escalation that is still underway with the support of US imperialism and after a crisis in his cabinet.

Under the pretext of the inauguration of the new Minister of Defense, the government came out with a new politics that combines repression and negotiation. It is evident that they have not reached an absolute consensus, but there is a change and the repressive aspect is the one that is being imposed at the moment. Although they call for dialogue, they have sent the regulation of the state of exception to the congress.

A full expression of this turn of events was the attitude of an emboldened Rodrigo Paz. He recorded himself in a video in which he openly called for civil war, asking the population to mobilize against the blockades by supporting the armed forces. And although he later had to delete the post due to criticism, it clearly shows that the government’s head orientation is to become a dictator but, at the same time, it does not have a majority social consensus to carry out this policy.

Steps forward in repression

While sending to Congress the regulation of the law of exception, the new minister (with deep connections with US military apparatus) explored the eviction of two courts and began some selective kidnappings such as that of Justino Apaza (leader organizer of the open cabildo in the highlands and Simona Quispe (indigenous leader and former legislator).

The politics of selective kidnappings with hooded men who detain leaders without any explanation and in the middle of public streets calls for international repudiation by all human rights organizations. Methodology used by the worst military dictatorships show that the government with the advice of the U.S. before falling will resort to the most atrocious methodologies.

International support

Imperialism began a political campaign trying to justify its support under the pretext of drug trafficking and came out strongly in support of the dictatorship which they describe with the euphemism of democracy. Not only was there a pronouncement by Marco Rubio, but there is also material financing and military advice. In addition, imperialism placed Ernesto Justiniano with whom they have been working since the DEA. The shield of the Americas also pronounced itself in favor of Paz.

It is clear that the ongoing revolution is taking on a worrying dimension for world capitalism and the US imperialists in particular.

The State of Exception

Both chambers voted the regulation of the state of exception sent by the executive in express days in the middle of the Corpus Christi holiday. Since early yesterday morning, the regulation was sent to the executive for its promulgation. Which, as of this writing, has not happened.

However, as mentioned above, while the state of emergency was being debated, the government moved forward with the selective kidnapping of union, trade union, indigenous and neighborhood leaders using dictatorial methods.

Defeat in San Julián

At the same time that the government is trying to move forward with these methods, it tried to begin to lift the roadblocks in the southern zone where it characterizes that they have less social support. It managed to dislodge one at the Lipari bridge, from which it launched a campaign to obtain more strength to go for others.

For the next one in San Julián, he not only went with the forces of law and order but also used Unión Juvenil Santacruceña (a paramilitary group of the middle-class bourgeoisie). This shock group had a common intelligence with the police. The police gassed and used rubber bullets and the Unión Juvenil Santacruceña used fire bullets. However, the communities and settlers reorganized and forced the police to withdraw from the area. After that, they went to the police station, which they completely dislodged. The presence of the UJS was like fuel to the fire.

Polarization increases

These facts confirm the government using kidnappings and paramilitary forces to defeat the revolution. And it must be kept in mind that although it does not have the consensus to do so, it is playing for everything, supported by imperialism which cannot allow a revolutionary process to take away a president in the region because of what it would mean.

Rodrigo Paz is not going to go away like previous presidents, he is going to intern until there is no possibility left. For this very reason the Bolivian revolution requires the greatest international solidarity and also that the organizations of mass organization radicalize their measures even more, guaranteeing the total strike, the self-defense of the blockades on the road to taking political power to put an end to the starvation policy of Rodrigo Paz and Yankee imperialism.

Let’s defeat Rodrigo Paz’s fascistoid escalation!

Immediate release of all arrested leaders!

All our solidarity with the Bolivian revolution!

All power to the COB, CSUTCB, FEJUVES, Túpaj Katari and organizations in struggle!