News Desk
ISLAMABAD/SANTA CRUZ, BOLIVIA: Bolivian police on Wednesday detained Luis Fernando Camacho, the governor of the economically dominant Santa Cruz area, on terror charges, sparking street fights between his supporters and law enforcement.
Interior Minister Eduardo del Castillo said: “We inform the Bolivian people that the police executed an arrest warrant for Luis Fernando Camacho. At the same time, Camacho was flown to La Paz, the administrative capital, for questioning”.
Camacho, a former right-wing presidential candidate, was investigated on several charges, including allegedly fanning protests in Santa Cruz this year and for an alleged role in leftist president Evo Morales’s resignation in 2019.
Accusations of terrorism
The office of the public prosecutors said that Luis Fernando Camacho Vac was accused of ”terrorism” to oust Evo Morales without providing more details. The accusation was similar to that made against former president Jeanine Anez, who was seized in 2021 and sentenced to ten years in prison in June for allegedly planning to overthrow Morales. According to the governor’s office, Camacho according to the governor’s office was “kidnapped in a completely illegitimate police operation.”
Protests
Supporters of Camacho blocked Santa Cruz streets with paving stones, tree branches, and cars after learning of his detention and demanded that he be released. Additionally, they set fire to the local prosecutor’s office. There were no reported injuries. In an unsuccessful attempt to stop his transfer to La Paz, dozens of his supporters demanding his freedom came to Santa Cruz’s two airports, causing the suspension of flights at both airports.
Prevention of food shortages
After strikes paralyzed Santa Cruz in October, Bolivia halted several exports to prevent food shortages. To enhance the opposition stronghold’s representation in the national legislature and its access to state finances, protesters blocked roads and shut down businesses while calling for a census.
