By Nathália Urban
It is not surprising that the European Union has passed a resolution in the European Parliament calling for the release of former dictator Jeanine Áñez and coup ministers, held in pre-trial detention during investigations into the coup process, which resulted in two indigenous massacres and at least 35 deaths. The EU Parliament stated that it “denounces and condemns the arbitrary and illegal detention of former interim president Áñez, two of her ministers and other political prisoners; calls on the Bolivian authorities to release them immediately and drop the politically motivated charges against them; calls for a transparent and impartial justice framework, without political pressures, and urges the authorities to provide all the necessary medical assistance to ensure their well-being”.
Like the Organization of American States (OAS), the European Parliament has cast doubt on the Bolivian judicial system and is calling for judicial reforms. The OAS was one of the masterminds of the coup that overthrew Morales and lifted Áñez to power in support of militias, the army and the National Police. Jeanine Áñez is accused of crimes of insurrection, terrorism and of ordering the army to commit the massacres in Senkata and Sacaba, which left 36 dead after the coup. The EU parliamentary resolution had a tighter approval than is usually the case on international issues. The approved text was pushed by conservatives and liberals but rejected by the left.
That’s why the Wiphalas Por El Mundo organisation has been given the opportunity to replicate the Mural of the Victims of the Coup d’etat in Bolivia, in London from Friday 18th June to 4th July. This action will be the first time that the UK will have seen a very public display of images of the massacres caused by international interference in this Latin American country, including by the UK’s role in the coup.
With that revolutionary spirit, and because neo-liberal colonial practices continue to interfere, hurt and kill our communities, the group wants to people to participate in the forums we have scheduled. The mission for this two-weeks international campaign is clear and unapologetic:
European solidarity with Bolivia and justice for all the human rights violations of the victims of the coup d’etat
We demand respect for the sovereignty of our fellow people’s nations
We demand an end to racism and to the dehumanization of indigenous and native peoples of the world
You can register for the panels here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/wiphalas-across-the-world-33139617771?aff=eand
Nathália Urban is a Brazilian journalist and activist currently based in Edinburgh and a member of the Advisory Board of the Irish Chapter of REDH.