Red Ponchos leader arrested in El Alto for inciting weapons use
Bolivian Police detained Bernabé Gutiérrez, head of the conflict committee of the Red Ponchos, accused of promoting violence in the road blockade that has lasted 36 days.
Arrest in El Alto for incitement to violence in blockades
Bolivian Police arrested Bernabé Gutiérrez on Friday in El Alto, a leader of the Red Ponchos and head of that organisation's conflict committee, accused of inciting the use of weapons in the context of a road blockade that has left the department of La Paz isolated for 36 consecutive days.
According to vision360.bo, the National Government filed a formal complaint stating that Gutiérrez had circulated messages and audiovisual material promoting the use of force and violence in the context of the blockade ordered by the Bolivian Workers' Centre (COB), which demands the resignation of president Rodrigo Paz.
Among the evidence presented are videos filmed in Achacachi showing hooded individuals carrying firearms.
Gutiérrez, who also served as former director of Human Rights of the Defence Ministry during Luis Arce's government, according to Unitel reporting, was transferred following his detention to the headquarters of the Special Force to Combat Crime (FELCC) in La Paz, where he remains in police custody while investigations continue.
This is the third person detained in connection with the protests. Justino Apaza was sent to San Pedro prison for six months following his precautionary measures hearing, accused of terrorism, public incitement to crime and criminal association. Meanwhile, Simona Quispe, a former senator of the Movement towards Socialism (MAS) and close to former president Evo Morales, was arrested on Thursday, 4 June and released the following day after no evidence was found against her, according to her own statement upon being released.
The road blockade keeps the department of La Paz isolated from the rest of the country and the Government seat surrounded, with shortages of basic goods for the population.
Source: Google News BO — La Paz