Civic leader demands detention of Argollo and Morales following Salazar's imprisonment
Agustín Zambrana, first vice-president of the Pro Santa Cruz Committee, welcomed the preventative detention of Vicente Salazar but demanded that justice act against those he considers the true instigators of the protests.
Civic leader demands detention of Argollo and Morales following Salazar's imprisonment
Agustín Zambrana, who holds the position of first vice-president of the Pro Santa Cruz Committee, spoke positively of the judicial ruling that ordered the imprisonment of Vicente Salazar. However, he stressed that criminal proceedings must be extended to those who, in his view, are the true masterminds behind the mobilisations that affected Bolivia for 53 days: former president Evo Morales and Mario Argollo, head of the Bolivian Labour Federation (COB).
At a press conference held on Monday afternoon, Zambrana stated that Salazar is nothing more than a subordinate figure within the structure that, according to him, orchestrated acts of terrorism on national territory. "It is not enough that Salazar is behind bars; Argollo and Morales must also answer to justice, along with others involved," said the opposition leader.
The civic representative urged prosecutors to act without fear, asserting that there is public support for judicial decisions to be made going forward. Zambrana emphasised that those responsible for the protest days must account for the deaths that occurred, the deterioration of the road network, the loss of jobs, and the economic damage caused to the country.
On Saturday at midday, police officers arrested Salazar in the city of El Alto through an operation in which the institution's intelligence unit participated. The detained individual remained in custody overnight and the following day the prosecutor's office brought formal charges against him.
During the hearing on precautionary measures held on Monday in La Paz, the court ordered that Salazar—supreme leader of the Túpac Katari Peasant Trade Union Federation—serve six months of preventative detention in Chonchocoro penitentiary. Representatives of the Public Ministry attributed five criminal offences to him: public incitement to commit crimes, criminal association, terrorism, attacks on transport security, and attacks on public services security. The charge of financing terrorism was dismissed.
Source: El Deber
Source: El Deber