LA PAZ: Bolivian Justice Minister Cesar Siles accused ex-president Evo Morales of “terrorism” on Thursday for allegedly ordering his supporters to cut off supplies to La Paz after he was banned from contesting August elections.
Siles said the government had filed a complaint against Morales for “terrorism, public incitement to crime and attacks on the security of public services,” among other crimes, over the campaign of road blockades that has paralyzed central Bolivia since Monday.
Supporters of the former president – who served from 2006 to 2019 – began blocking roads leading to La Paz, the seat of government, over the electoral authorities’ refusal to allow Morales to run for a fourth term in August 17 elections.
The protests have since snowballed into a wider revolt over President Luis Arce’s handling of a deep economic crisis, marked by severe shortages of hard currency and fuel.
Many of the protesters have called on Arce, an ally-turned-foe of Morales, to resign.
A leaked audio message on Thursday appeared to capture Morales calling on his supporters in the country’s agricultural heartland to shut down two key roads leading to La Paz.
The government reported more than 40 blockades nationwide on Thursday, which the minister of economy said were causing daily losses of $100 to $150 million.
Around 30 police officers have been injured in clashes with protesters since the beginning of the week, according to Gabriela Alcon, deputy minister of communication.
Morales, 65, was barred by the Constitutional Court from seeking re-election but attempted in vain to register as a candidate last month.
He faced a similar situation in November 2019 when the government of right-wing president Jeanine Anez accused him of “sedition and terrorism.”
Morales had allegedly called on supporters to maintain blockades which caused food and fuel shortages in La Paz.
Morales is also wanted on charges of human trafficking over his alleged sexual relationship with a minor while in office.
He has firmly rejected the charges as a case of “judicial persecution.”
Bolivia justice minister accuses Morales of ‘terrorism’ over road blockades
Bolivia justice minister accuses Morales of ‘terrorism’ over road blockades
- Supporters of the former president have began blocking roads leading to La Paz, the seat of government
- Protests have snowballed into a wider revolt over President Luis Arce’s handling of a deep economic crisis
Greek parliament approves purchase of rocket artillery systems from Israel
- Greece is in talks with Israel to develop a €3 billion anti-aircraft and missile defense dome
ATHENS: Greek lawmakers approved the purchase of 36 PULS rocket artillery systems from Israel for about €650 million ($757.84 million), two officials with knowledge of the issue said.
Greece has said it will spend about €28 billion ($32.66 billion) by 2036 to modernize its armed forces as it emerges from a 2009-2018 debt crisis.
“In a closed session, the parliament’s defense committee approved the purchase of PULS,” a senior official with knowledge of the issue said.
A second official confirmed the parliament’s approval, adding that the cost would be around €650 million to €700 million. Reuters reported in November that Greece was in talks with Israel for the systems.
Greece and Israel have strong economic and diplomatic ties, have conducted several joint exercises in recent years, and operate an air training
center in southern Greece.
Greece is also in talks with Israel to develop a €3 billion anti-aircraft and missile defense dome.
The PULS system, made by Israel’s Elbit, has a range of up to 300 km and will help protect Greece’s northeastern border with Turkiye and Greek islands in the Aegean, officials have said.
The deal also includes the construction of components in Greece.
Greece and Turkiye, NATO allies, have long been at odds over issues including where their continental shelves start and end, energy resources, flights over the Aegean, and the ethnically partitioned island of Cyprus.
