Four first responders lost their lives in anti-government protests across Bolivia that saw supporters of ex-president Evo Morales clashing with the police.
Justice Minister Cesar Siles said that three police officers and one firefighter were among the deceased.
The protests that began a week ago turned into an uprising against incumbent President Luis Arce, who has been criticised for mishandling Bolivia's economy. The protesters demanded that Morales contest in the upcoming 2025 election.
Morales is one of the first indigenous leaders of the country and enjoyed widespread support, especially from rural Bolivia. He is credited with eliminating poverty in the country.
Morales served as president for three terms between 2006 and 2019. However, many accused him of running an authoritarian regime. He also attempted to change the country's constitution that would have allowed him to run for a fourth term, but his efforts were thwarted.
Further accusations of fraud ignited political upheaval and caused him to temporarily flee the country.
After 2019, Bolivian courts upheld the two-term limit of presidents, denying Morales the opportunity to run in the 2025 elections. As a result, supporters of the former president gathered on the streets of Bolivia demanding justice for Morales.
Divisions within the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party have further exacerbated the political climate, following Morales’ exit as party leader due to friction with his ally, President Luis Arce.
In May, Arce announced his withdrawal from the Presidential election in 2025 and accused Morales of igniting a “coup” against his government.
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Local media reports tanks being seen in the Llallagua area, the epicentre of the protests. The public has further expressed its discontent with the current economic and political climate.
A restaurant owner told Reuters, “Nobody travels on these roads anymore, and nobody works normally. It really harms us.”
Justice Minister Siles further stated, “We can’t call these civilian protests any more. We are talking about paramilitary groups, groups that carry weapons, and we have to respond firmly.”
On Thursday, a social media post by former President Morales recognised the current crisis to be a result of “inadequate government policies,” warning that the country stood at the brink of “total collapse.”
