Ex-Bolivian president Morales seeks international support in standoff with government

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - After 22 days of blockades, former Bolivian President Evo Morales has requested international intervention to accomplish a dialogue with the country's government.

"We call on friendly countries and international organizations to facilitate a sincere dialogue with the government of Luis Arce, in order to prevent repression from producing violence," Morales said in his X account on Monday.

For about three weeks, Morales' supporters have been blocking several roads in the country trying to prevent him from going to jail for a case of alleged abuse of a 15-year-old girl when he was president in 2016.

Last Friday, supporters of Morales kidnapped three military units in the Tropic of Cochabamba in the center of the country. The government confirmed that one of the three military regiments “taken over” in the center of the country by supporters of the former president remains under their control.

"There is one barracks that is still occupied. In the others we are making an inventory of the weapons inside the barracks," said the Minister of Government, Eduardo del Castillo on Monday.

Morales announced he will continue with a hunger strike that he began on Friday and encouraged the continuity of road-blocks to protest the government of President Arce, with whom he is fighting a battle for control of the ruling party for the 2025 presidential elections.

"It is a betrayal of the people, of the militants (of the governing Movement for Socialism party), of the revolution. There is not only betrayal, but mismanagement, corruption, protection of drug trafficking," Morales said about the Arce government.

Road cuts have caused food and fuel shortages in a country with a crisis economy. Arce has called for the immediate removal of roadblocks that have paralyzed parts of the country.

Hundreds of police officers began on Monday to clear a major route connecting the country with the support of tractors.

“We are going to peacefully unblock the routes that have been taken over by criminal groups,” said Castillo.