Bolivia's president accuses supporters of former leader Morales of seizing 3 military barracks

LA PAZ, Bolivia -- LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Bolivian President Luis Arce connected Friday condemned nan seizure of 3 subject units by supporters of erstwhile President Evo Morales, calling it “an perfectly reprehensible criminal enactment that is acold from immoderate morganatic societal declare of nan Indigenous peasant movement.”

In a connection connected nan societal media level X, Arce wrote that “the taking of a subject portion is simply a crime of treason against nan homeland and an affront to nan country's Constitution."

Earlier connected Friday nan Bolivian Armed Forces said successful a connection that “irregular equipped groups” had kidnapped subject unit and took power of subject units successful nan halfway of nan country, wherever constabulary officers began to clear nan roads blocked 19 days agone by supporters of former President Evo Morales.

In nan statement, nan equipped forces urged those responsible for nan takeover to “immediately and peacefully” wantonness nan installation and warned that “anyone who takes up arms against nan state will beryllium considered a traitor.”

The informing came aft videos circulated connected societal media pinch statements from a subject leader who is believed to beryllium detained confirming nan “peaceful” takeover of a regiment successful nan coca-growing area of ​​Chapare. The authorities person neither confirmed nor denied that he is simply a personnel of nan Army.

Meanwhile, nan constabulary mobilized a ample number of troops and tractors to clear nan roads of debris pinch nan support of a fraction of nan subject police.

Officers clearing nan roadblocks recovered an unexpected state successful nan celebrated All Saints’ Day holiday, arsenic galore protesters near nan roads to celebrate.

The conflict collapsed retired 3 weeks ago erstwhile Bolivian prosecutors launched an investigation into accusations that Morales fathered a kid pinch a 15-year-old woman successful 2016, classifying their narration arsenic statutory rape. Morales has refused to attest successful court.

Since reports circulated of a imaginable warrant against him, nan ex-president has been holed up successful nan Chapare region, successful cardinal Bolivia, wherever loyalist coca growers person kept watch to forestall his arrest.

Last week, 30 constabulary officers were injured and much than 50 protesters were arrested aft a standoff betwixt information forces and supporters of Morales. But nan alleged blockers regained power of nan roads aft nan rule enforcement agents passed through.

The astir captious business is taking spot successful nan coca-growing region of Chapare, a governmental bastion and refuge of Morales, wherever his followers person surrounded and threatened to return complete constabulary and subject barracks, demanding nan closure of nan judicial cases against nan erstwhile president.

Several groups, including nan politician of La Paz, Iván Arias, person asked nan authorities to state a authorities of emergency successful Cochabamba, nan region hardest deed by nan protests. The authorities has avoided sending retired soldiers en masse to clear nan roads. Opponents opportunity nan authorities is showing weakness successful dealing pinch nan conflict successful nan midst of an system successful situation pinch rising surviving costs and substance shortages.

Morales, a erstwhile coca grower, has retained important support among mediocre and Indigenous Bolivians contempt his resignation successful 2019 amid wide protests complete his disrupted re-election.

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