Since Morales decided to publicly question Trump on the US interest to uphold democracy, in a truly democratic spirit today I would like to bring the attention this is getting to the issue of Bolivian democracy: Morales has made it legal to be re-elected indefinitely.
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As a Bolivian, I’d like to point out that while many -with due reason- are clapping at Morales’ statement in the UN, you MUST realize that the president you see there shamelessly using the Trump card to foster his international image is a violator if human rights AT HOME.
If Morales indeed cared so much about indigenous rights and dignity his government would not threaten and persecute indigenous leaders who oppose the extractivist policies his gov has taken which give green light for Chinese companies to explore our natural areas
If Morales indeed cared so much about democracy, he would respect the results of the 21 February 2016 referendum where Bolivians said we did NOT want indefinite reelection of the president to be legalized, which he did anyway through the Constitutional Court last year. #21F
If Morales and his government indeed cared so much about democracy, he would not have unilaterally changed the electoral laws through the legislative to call on electoral primaries that were originally scheduled for 2024 in 2018, in an attempt to boicot opposition parties.
If Morales and his government did care so much about democracy, they would not need to shut down the city center for holiday events like four days ago, forbidding citizens to enter the city plaza out of fear they would chant slogans in favor of democracy (which we did, anyway).
And finally if Morales and his government cared so much about democracy and human rights, he would not be such a big ally to governments such as Venezuela, Nicaragua, Russia and China. Bolivian media doesn’t even report on repression on these countries.
Morales is successfully using Trump and his administration’s many mistakes to further an image of human rights defender that barely resembles what truly happens in Bolivia. I agree that US citizens have every right (and should question) Trump’s actions.
Question Morales as well.
Question Morales as well.
