Bolivia: Government accuses Áñez of requesting “armament” from U.S. and UK ahead of 2020 elections

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Through the then Vice-Minister of Citizen Security Wilson Santamaría, officials would have requested “equipment and weapons” to “repress the Bolivian people,” according to the current government, as stated by the now Vice-Minister of the aforementioned portfolio Roberto Ríos.

The first note dates back to May 2020 and is addressed to Washington’s diplomatic representative Bruce Williamson, according to reports by “La Razón” newspaper, which pointed out that the document is incomplete.

The first page reads: “I urge you to attend to the above request with the purpose of defending the integrity of the Bolivian people and its territory.” In September, the government of Añez reportedly sent another official note to the British Embassy, also signed by Santamaría.

In it, “guns, rounds of ammunition, gas grenades, full uniforms, gas masks, night visors, thermal visors, binoculars, helmets, protective suits and other equipment considered important for the Bolivian Police in order to defend the integrity of the people, its territory and security” were requested.

Ríos said that the request is being examined to confirm if these requirements “were met” through Santamaría. “This clearly indicates that all this weaponry and equipment requested by other authorities would presumably be used to repress the Bolivian people. And what is most striking is that it was issued weeks before the 2020 elections,” he said.

Bolivia had held general elections in which former president Evo Morales was declared the winner, but his main rival, Carlos Mesa, who came second, denounced a “gigantic fraud.”

The parties agreed to an audit by the Organization of American States (OAS) which found “irregularities.” Later, Morales resigned amidst a wave of violence that left over 30 dead. Jeanine Áñez, then “number two” in the Senate, proclaimed herself interim president.

However, Bolivia held presidential elections again on October 18, 2020, a date repeatedly deferred due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In the elections, Arce, candidate of Morales’ Movimiento Al Socialismo (MAS) party, won in the first round with over 55% of the vote.