LA PAZ – February 10, 2022 (AFP) – To some, she is a political prisoner. For others, a crook. The trial of Bolivia’s interim president, Jeanine Anez, on charges of the alleged coup against her predecessor, Evo Morales, begins Thursday, amid controversy.
Arrested in La Paz for 11 months and on hunger strike since Wednesday, the 54-year-old right-winger is on trial along with eight former soldiers.
She is accused of unconstitutionally assuming the presidency, in November 2019, after Ivo’s resignation (2006-2019), amid mass protests over allegations of electoral fraud denounced by the Organization of American States.
“I took over the presidency of Bolivia without asking, without seeking, let alone waiting (…), with the single task of calling elections and calming the country in turmoil,” wrote the former president, who ruled from 2019 to 2020. In a letter issued on Tuesday (8).
Her lawyer, Louis Gillin, said the opening document of the trial classifies the former president as “unconstitutional.”
After the opening of the presentation session, which was held in virtual form, Guillén complained of voice problems and requested that the trial, in which 76 witnesses will testify, be conducted in person.
And the Public Prosecution announced that it will submit the statements in writing, which the defense rejects, considering that it prevents them and the judges from asking questions.
As the session progressed, outside the courtroom, dozens of supporters of the former president protested, led by her daughter, Carolina Ribera. An AFP correspondent noted that they left when a group of critics arrived to demand the conviction of Anez.
Two hours later, the presiding judge closed the session, saying that the next session would be scheduled soon. According to Bolivian law, the process can last up to three years.
In addition, the court will amend the opening document of the trial criticized by the defense, which was written by an alternate judge.
On Tuesday, a group of 21 former presidents of Ibero-American states asked the United Nations to visit Anez and inform them of possible “abuses of power” against her.
Two cases – the second against the former president – on charges of sedition, terrorism and conspiracy – are under investigation. Therefore, there are no official charges yet.
According to Gillan, “there are two operations for the same act,” which would violate a general principle in law. Furthermore, he emphasized that “the ordinary court cannot decide what is constitutional.”
The plaintiffs – the government, the member of Parliament and Congress – argue that Neese’s actions will be judged before his administration.
For political scientist Carlos Cordero, of the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, “This is a political trial that is being conducted by the current government of President Luis Arres.”
He concluded his speech by saying: “It is a way of imposing political punishment on whoever dares to be an opponent in the moment of crisis of the Movement for Socialism (MAS),” referring to the official party.
The former president was also accused of committing “genocide”, after the complaint of family members of the victims of the November 2019 repression. Because of this crime, she can be sentenced to between 10 and 20 years in prison.
A team of experts set up by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in agreement with Bolivia counted 22 deaths in these violent incidents, which were described as “massacres”.
Unlike other charges, this accusation will be dealt with by Congress, which will decide whether to open a liability ruling against the former president. The report also questions the independence of the Bolivian judicial system.
From the presidency to prison – In October 2019, Morales ran for a fourth term, despite losing a referendum that would have allowed him to be re-elected. Amid strong social unrest and accusations of fraud, he backed the army and police and left the country.
His successors resigned: the Vice President, the Speaker of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Amid a power vacuum, attorney and former television presenter, Anez, has taken over as the next succession succession.
Then, which was controlled by the MAS de Morales party, Parliament recognized the legitimacy of its administration, the main task of which was to organize new elections. These were held in October 2020, after two postponements due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The winner was Arce, an ally of Morales.
Nez left power in November 2020, and in March 2021, she was arrested.
The ex-president is a finalist of the Sakharov Prize for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedom of Thought, awarded annually by the European Parliament.
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