Bolivia: Seven detained over Pando massacre

Bolivian officials arrested seven people in connection with a massacre last September in the northern province of Pando. A mayor, civic leaders and two journalists were reportedly among the group who were arrested for the killings of twenty Bolivians on September 11th.

A November 2008 report by the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) blamed local authorities for the massacre of pro-government supporters. Opposition politicos in Pando rejected the report as biased and as only presenting “one side as truth”.

The Pando massacre was one of the bloodiest episodes of a conflict between supporters and detractors of Bolivian president Evo Morales. The incident highlighted the divisive nature of Bolivian politics:

The unrest flared during a bitter power struggle between leftist President Evo Morales and conservative rivals opposed to his drive to implement a new constitution…

His government declared martial law in Pando and arrested provincial Gov. Leopoldo Fernandez, accusing him of inspiring the violence. It lifted the state of siege late (last November).

Bolivians would go on to back the new Magna Carta via a referendum last month.

Image- CBC (“Supporters of Bolivian President Evo Morales protest in La Paz on Sept. 12. (Juan Karita/Associated Press).”)
Online Sources- Prensa Latina, LAHT, Reuters, The Latin Americanist