4 Killed in Anti-Government Protests in Bolivia
According to webangah News Agency, at least four people were killed during anti-government protests in Bolivia amid escalating tensions ahead of the country’s upcoming elections. Supporters of former President Evo Morales clashed with government security forces during the demonstrations.
bolivia’s Justice Minister César Siles confirmed on Thursday that the fatalities included emergency personnel. A state news agency reported three police officers and one firefighter among the dead.
Siles told reporters in La Paz: “Four officers have lost thier lives so far in these clashes. Some were shot with firearms.”
The protests this week primarily focused on dissatisfaction with bolivia’s economic crisis and Morales’ disqualification from participating in the August 17 presidential election.
the demonstrations have been most intense in rural areas where Morales enjoys strong support. The former union leader,who served as president from 2006 to 2019,was Bolivia’s first indigenous leader and is known for his anti-poverty campaigns.
Though, his three-term presidency faced growing accusations of authoritarian tendencies. In 2016,voters rejected a constitutional amendment that would have allowed Morales to run for a fourth consecutive term.He later secured court approval to participate in the controversial 2019 election despite this rejection.
His candidacy and subsequent fraud allegations triggered a political crisis that ultimately forced his temporary exile from the country.
In recent years, Bolivian courts have repeatedly upheld presidential term limits, barring Morales from competing in the 2025 elections.The former president accuses the government of violating his rights while supporters continue protesting through road blockades and confrontations with security forces.
