The Technical Mission in Bolivia of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has condemned the violence at protests in Bolivia’s capital, Santa Cruz, and called for an investigation into any rights violations.
«Violence, of any nature and from any actor, has no place in the legitimate exercise of the right to assembly and protest. The loss of lives (…), the damage to the physical integrity of hundreds of people and to property, as well as attacks on institutions and social organizations, are unacceptable and cannot be repeated,» the mission in the country said, according to a statement from the organization.
In addition to categorically rejecting the violent acts registered in recent weeks in the country, it reiterated the importance of the right to peaceful assembly and protest as a way «to exercise other rights such as the right to participate in public affairs or freedom of expression».
In this sense, the entity has demanded the action of all Bolivian State agencies for the fulfillment of Human Rights.
«This role is of particular importance to avoid acts of racism and discrimination,» explained the High Commissioner. «Attitudes and behaviors of this nature have no place in a democratic society and demand to continue working on respect and inclusion,» reads the statement.
Likewise, the OHCHR mission has pointed to the Ombudsman’s Office, since it «has a key responsibility in the promotion and protection of human rights in the country».
It has also called for the protection of media workers and for police forces to comply with international standards.
The Executive of the Latin American country announced last week that it would take criminal action against those responsible for the protests in Santa Cruz, after announcing that the death toll is four dead and 178 injured in 20 days.
The Minister of the Presidency, María Nela Prada, criticized the days of «terror» that characterized the Santa Cruz strike, affirming that the leaders of the protests have «blood on their hands».
The so-called «civic movement» of Bolivia – driven by the opposition in the Bolivian region of Santa Cruz – began more than twenty days ago an indefinite national strike to demand the holding of the Census in 2023, instead of 2024 as proposed by the Bolivian Government, since this registry conditions the distribution of aid among the regions of the country.
The protests are concentrated in the city of Santa Cruz, where the opposition to Luis Arce has the greatest weight and is the economic engine of the country.
