International
The military command in Bolivia changes and the Government accuses Evo Morales of wanting to cut the democratic order
The president of Bolivia, Luis Arce, changed this Saturday the high military command of the country between requests for preservation of public order and democracy, at a time when the followers of former president Evo Morales (2006-2019) celebrate 13 days of an indefinite blockade of roads.
Air Major General Gerardo Zabala is the new interim commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces; General José Wilson Sánchez is Chief of Staff; General Eduardo Aguilar is the commander-in-chief of the Army.
General Juan Ballester is general commander of the Air Force and Rear Admiral Oscar Vaca Molina was sworn in as General Commander of the Navy.
New military chiefs
The new military leaders assumed their positions at an event at the Casa Grande del Pueblo, headquarters of the Bolivian Executive, chaired by Arce, Vice President David Choquehuanca and the Minister of Defense, Edmundo Novillo.
Arce emphasized that the change of military command occurs at a time when state institutions seek to “preserve the highest vital interests of the country such as state security and the restoration of public order.”
Arce mentioned that “the right to peaceful protest is guaranteed” although he considered that the blockades maintained by the sectors related to Morales violate “the freedom of movement and freedom of movement” of citizens.
Accusation of Evo Morales
The Bolivian Foreign Ministry denounced to the international community that former President Evo Morales (2006-2019) seeks to cut the democratic order of the country with the protests that this Saturday turn 13 days, something that would also affect the stability of the South American region.
“Bolivia denounces to the international community that a series of destabilizing actions led by former President Evo Morales Ayma are underway in our country, which aim to interrupt the democratic order,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
He also warned that this “constitutes a serious threat not only to Bolivia, but also to stability and security in our region.”
Blocked country
Evo Morales’ followers maintain an indefinite blockade of roads to demand that the Luis Arce government withdraw the judicial proceedings for human trafficking and rape against the also leader of the ruling Movement to Socialism (MAS), since they consider that he is part of a political persecution against him.
They also ask for solutions to the rise in food prices, the lack of dollars, the irregular provision of fuel and respect for a MAS congress that in 2023 declared Morales a “single candidate” for next year’s elections.
In this regard, the Foreign Ministry mentioned that the Government “has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to dialogue” and warned that behind the protests “there are personal interests” of Morales to manipulate Justice and seek its impunity.
“Democracy at risk”
Likewise, the official note denounces the presence of “violent groups” and armed people “who have publicly threatened with bloodshed.”
“Bolivia calls on the international community, the States, multilateral organizations and the peoples of the world to remain attentive to these destabilizing events that seek to put at risk the democracy recovered by the Bolivian people,” the Foreign Ministry remarked.
On Friday, the Police organized an unblocking operation in several sectors of the department of Cochabamba (center) and that connect the roads between the west and east of the country.
The critical point was in the town of Parotani, 40 kilometers west of Cochabamba, which ended with a confrontation between the Police and the demonstrators with 14 officers injured and 44 arrested.
Evo Morales’ complaints
For his part, Morales denounced that after the operation some groups of civilians carried out “fascist” attacks, such as the destruction of a coca leaf producing headquarters in Cochabamba and the aggression against one of their lawyers, who was beaten and the car destroyed.
The blockades, which according to the Bolivian Highway Administrator (ABC) remain in 16 areas, have exacerbated the country’s economic situation and generated a shortage of some food, gasoline and diesel.
The Government enabled flights or “air longings” to guarantee the provision of beef and chicken to the cities of La Paz and El Alto, while trucks with fuel travel alternative routes to reach the distribution plants.
International
Erin brings strong winds and storm surge despite weakening offshore
Hurricane Erin weakened to a Category 2 storm on Tuesday but continues to pose a threat to parts of the U.S. East Coast with potentially dangerous flooding, according to meteorologists.
Although the hurricane’s eye is expected to remain offshore, experts are concerned about Erin’s size, as strong winds extend hundreds of kilometers beyond the storm’s center.
In its 18:00 GMT bulletin, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) lifted tropical storm warnings for the Bahamasand Turks and Caicos Islands, but kept them in effect for parts of North Carolina.
Erin was located several hundred kilometers southeast of North Carolina and was moving northwestward.
“This means there is a risk of potentially life-threatening flooding of 60 to 120 centimeters above ground level,” said NHC Director Michael Brennan.
He also warned of the possibility of destructive waves, combined with storm surge, that could cause severe damage to beaches and coastal areas, making roads impassable.
International
Three U.S. Warships deploy near Venezuela to combat drug trafficking
Three U.S. naval vessels are moving toward the coasts of Venezuela, according to international media reports on Tuesday, after White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed that President Donald Trump is ready to combat and curb international drug trafficking.
Reports indicate that the ships will reach Venezuelan waters within the next 36 hours as part of a recent U.S. deployment aimed at countering international narcotics operations.
The announcement coincides with Leavitt’s statement that Trump is prepared to “use the full extent of his power” to halt drug flows into the United States. The naval deployment involves approximately 4,000 military personnel.
“The President has been clear and consistent. He is ready to use every element of U.S. power to prevent drugs from flooding our country and to bring those responsible to justice. The Maduro regime is not the legitimate government of Venezuela—it is a narco-terror cartel,” the spokesperson said during a press conference.
International
Cuban authorities free salvadoran convicted in 1997 hotel bombing
Salvadoran national Otto René Rodríguez Llerena was released after serving a 30-year prison sentence for his involvement in a terrorist attack at a hotel in Cuba in 1997, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.
During his trial, Rodríguez Llerena admitted to placing an explosive device at the Meliá Cohiba Hotel under the orders of anti-Castro exile leaders. He was arrested the following year when he returned to Havana with another load of explosives that failed to detonate.
“The Cuban government reiterates its commitment to combating terrorism, respecting human rights, and the need for the international community to hold accountable those who promote such acts,” the statement read.
He was released on August 15 and is the second Salvadoran to complete his sentence. In December of last year, another Salvadoran, Ernesto Cruz León, was released after planting bombs at tourist centers, one of which killed an Italian tourist identified as Fabio Di Celmo.
A third Salvadoran, Francisco Chávez Abarca, also received a 30-year sentence from Cuban courts in 2010 after being extradited from Venezuela through Interpol for actions against Cuba.
Rodríguez Llerena had requested conditional release in 2016, arguing that his actions had not caused any direct fatalities, but no further information was released about his situation until now.
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