#Bolivia Lots of questions about whether if this was a coup or not seem to have ended in a part of the international audience accepting it as such because of the role played by the army. The army's suggestion to Morales' to resign is being read as coercion to do so. /1
Granted, hard to avoid such a conclusion when looking at history. However, it seems important to highlight the events that shaped the army's 'suggestion' to Morales and the moment in which it took place to get a broader sense of the situation. /2
First, 24 hours before Morales resigned, the army stated that they were going to avoid repressing protesters and would respect the constitution. Why? Because they wanted to protect themselves from the same judicial prosecutions that sent members of the military to prison /3
in 2003, when they repressed the social movements that overthrew former pres. Goni. As such, and to a law signed by Mesa in 2005, in order to act, the army needed written orders signed by the president, or the minister of defense, with explicit and detailed instructions on how /4
to use military force against civilians. We may assume that such written order never arrived. Second, two events from that same afternoon and the next morning escalated violence against state authorities in Potosi and led to the first resignations. On Saturday, Morales' /5
supporters ambushed a group of students traveling from Potosi and Sucre to La Paz. The students denounced that they were beaten and that some women had been forced to undress and were sexually abused. On Sunday morning, after Evo announced new elections, news broke /6
of snipers shooting at another caravan of protesters on the road to La Paz. This caravan was made of cooperative miners, five of which were injured by gunfire. This second event, and not the blind search for Morales resignation, unleashed the fury of residents of Potosi /7
who set on fire the houses of the Ministry of Mining and the President of the Deputies Chamber. Both resigned immediately. A few hours later, after several other authorities resigned, and noticing that the call for new elections did not stop violence, /8
the ombudsperson appointed by Morales, the army, and the police 'suggested' almost at the same time that Morales resigned to pacify the country. The national labor union also asked Morales to consider the possibility. Morales and García resigned an hour later. /9
Now, at this very moment, the army is out on the streets of La Paz to neutralize mobs that since last night have been attacking public and private property of administrations and individuals opposed to Morales. Today, these mobs attacked several police buildings. /10
They are being presented as anti-coup protestors, but it might be inaccurate to even label them as supporters of Morales. Fear of serious escalation of violence and lootings among residents of all social classes in both La Paz and El Alto is very real. /11
So, regardless of whether if this was a coup, or not, a constitutional solution probably slipping away from people's hands, seems like the only solution. Both sides, but especially those presenting themselves as supporters Morales are taking us to a point of no return.
