More recently, Evo Morales, the successful president of Bolivia, who led millions of Indians out of poverty and illiteracy, visited Moscow and met with Vladimir Putin. And today, gangs put together by oligarchs (Bolivian Right Sector *) received the support of the army and police. President Morales departed for his home province, where he began his political career as organizer of coca farmers, and announced that he would resign in the face of a military coup. “Do not offend my brothers, poor Bolivians,” he said. - I'm leaving".
The coup took place after 20 days of “Maidan” in the capital, when the far-right militarized elements with the support of the US State Department and his proteges in Brazil and Colombia denied Morales’ victory in the elections. Representatives of the reactionary OAS (Organization of American States), who opposed Venezuela and Cuba, but always found a warm word for right-wing tyranny in Colombia, sided with the putschists. Morales, apparently underestimating the anger and strength of his opponents, agreed to accept the OAS resolution. Although allegations of fraudulent elections can be made in any country (even in the United States, as we see over the past three years), the OAS has demanded a new election. Morales agreed with the new election, apparently believing that his support among the people is strong.
But his opponents did not even want to give him a chance to stay in power. Right-wing gangs began pogroms, and the police withdrew. The army demanded that Morales leave - and he left, fearing to raise the flame of civil war. Other leading statesmen of Bolivia also resigned, anarchy reigned in the country. Right-wing gangs seized Morales' house in the capital, pogroms and fires raging throughout the country.
The leaders of Cuba and Venezuela condemned the military coup, and the far-right Brazilian president Bolsonara, on the contrary, greeted him.
In the next few days, the situation is likely to become clearer. Although Morales resigned, it is possible that he will return to power. And in Venezuela in the days of Hugo Chavez there was a similar right-wing coup, but a few days later Chavez managed to return to the presidential palace. But there is no guarantee: as we recall, the military coup in Chile brought the extreme right to power to this day.
The case of Morales is unusual if only because his economic course was very successful. Bolivia flourished, social inequality receded. The oligarchs and their armed gangs did not like it.
Latin America is a continent of military coups. Every second change of power is the result of a military coup. But in recent years, the peoples of Latin America have come a long way to political maturity, coups have become much less. The overthrow of the rightful president returns the continent to the recent damned past, when US ambassadors and generals determined who would rule.
Note that the rival of Morales in the election agreed with his proposals to preserve the constitutional field, to change the government in January - depending on the result of the re-election. But right-wing extremists did not want to wait and did not want Morales in any case.
The President of Mexico offered Morales political asylum, and some Morales supporters have already taken refuge at the Mexican Embassy in La Paz. However, while Morales did not express willingness to flee to Mexico. He said that for the time being he remained in his native province among the Indians devoted to him personally - coca farmers. Police said they have a warrant for the arrest of the president. True, it is unclear who issued this order, and the head of the police denied this. The generals who overthrew Morales also modestly hide their eyes and deny that they had carried out a military coup. But it was the refusal of the army and police to protect public order from gangs that led to this disastrous result.
Friends of the legendary Indian Evo Morales in Russia are extremely concerned about what happened and demand the maintenance of public order in Bolivia, an end to the rampant armed gangs, and the return of constitutional rule. It is important to avoid a civil war, to preserve the life and freedom of Evo Morales. In the end, the people of Bolivia will decide their fate - not at the direction of the State Department or at the behest of the generals. Bolivians know not only from Goethe: only he is worthy of life and freedom, who every day goes to fight for them. And this fight never ends. And Russia will always support those who remember it. And the moral support of Russia is a great force in Latin America.
* “Right Sector” - the Ukrainian association of radical nationalist organizations recognized as extremist and banned in Russia (decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of 11/17/2014).
The author’s point of view may not coincide with the position of the publisher.