Open letter

(Brussels, November 20, 2019): on the 18th November, ECVC sent an open letter to all Members of the European Parliament, the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council,  denouncing the coup d’état in Bolivia, as well as the endorsement of this anti-democratic interference by the European Union. We express our support to the people of Bolivia and condemn the violence against peasant, indigenous and poor communities.

Pdf version of the open letter can be found here.

OPEN LETTER: COUP D’ÉTAT IN BOLIVIA

Dear representatives of the European Union,

The European Coordination Via Campesina (ECVC) expresses its deep concern regarding the political situation in Bolivia and the undemocratic interference to which its elected president, Evo Morales, was victim last week. ECVC believes that Evo Morales’ resignation is the result of a coup d’état incited by the opposition and economic elites, with the complicity of the Bolivian armed forces and police. ECVC categorically condemns the coup d’état.

In addition, ECVC would like to recognise the value of the work accomplished by Evo Morales as President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia: his social and inclusive policies have considerably reduced poverty, enhanced peasant agriculture and ensured the representation and inclusion of indigenous populations and cultures in an extremely diverse country. We would also like to highlight the crucial role played by Evo Morales’ government at the UN in the elaboration and adoption of the historic Declaration of the Rights of Peasants and other people working in rural areas.

Through this open letter, we would first like to express our support for the democratically elected President, Evo Morales, who was forced to leave his post and go into exile under armed threat. Secondly, we declare our solidarity with the people of Bolivia, who are the first victims of this coup d’état. We also express our deep concern at the violence and racist attacks that have affected the population in recent days, particularly the most vulnerable members of Bolivian society, including indigenous populations, the most disadvantaged social classes and peasants.

ECVC regrets last Wednesday’s decision by the European Parliament to reject the qualification of the situation in Bolivia as a coup d’état. We also deplore the recognition by the European institutions of the new interim President, Jeanine Añez, as a legitimate Head of State.

However, we reiterate our concern for the safety of the Bolivian people and therefore call on the institutions of the European Union to do everything in their power to ensure the protection of the population and respect for human rights in Bolivia. In addition, we ask the institutions of the European Union to support and demand the holding of transparent and free democratic elections in Bolivia as soon as possible, and to do everything in their power to guarantee the Bolivian people the right to freely express their political opinions and exercise their popular sovereignty, in a context of security and non-violence.

Yours sincerely,

ECVC Coordinating Committee.

Photo credit : Aizar Raldes – AFP

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