Supporters of former Bolivian President Evo Morales took around “twenty” soldiers hostage on Friday after seizing a barracks in the Chapare region, in central Bolivia, military sources announced.
“Irregular armed groups” seized a barracks, “taking soldiers hostage” and seizing “weapons and ammunition,” the armed forces said in a statement.
A Defense source declared, on condition of anonymity, that around “twenty” soldiers had been taken hostage.
Mobilizations since mid-October
In a video broadcast by the Bolivian press confirmed by this source, we see 16 soldiers surrounded by peasants brandishing sticks.
“The regiment of Cacique Maraza was taken by groups from Tipnis, they cut off our water and electricity, they took us hostage,” says a soldier in the video. The Tipnis are known as the indigenous territories of Chapare, where Evo Morales has his strongest political base.
Since October 14, his supporters have blocked the country’s main roads to protest what they consider a “judicial persecution” against him.
The former president (2006-2019) is the target of an investigation for the alleged rape of a teenage girl while he was at the head of the country.
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