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Detained Former Bolivian President Reject Terrorism, Sedition and Conspiracy
Charges

VOA News

   Former Bolivian interim president Jeanine Anez claimed Sunday that she
   hadthepeople's support, after a judge in the capital La Paz sentenced
   her to four months pre-trial detention for inciting a coup d'état
   against her predecessor.

   "Ihavethesupportofthepeoplebecausewedefendthe
   ruleoflawandofallthosewhobelieveindemocracy,"Anez,formerinterimpresiden
   tofBoliviasaidspeakinginSpanish."Icannothavethesupportofthe MAS
   (MovementforSocialism)partybecausetheyobviouslydespisedemocracy."MASwon
   the
   electionsinOctober2020andcurrentlycontrolsthepresidencyandtheCongress.

   In atweetlatershesaid"[t]heyaresendingme
   todetentionforfourmonthstoawaita trialfora
   'coup'thatneverhappened,"adding"[f]rom here IcallonBolivia
   tohavefaithandhope.Oneday,together,wewillbuildabetterBolivia."

   Earlier Anez told reporters that the rule of law in the country was
   being "undermined" and that Bolivia could become a "no man's land."

   Judge Regina Santa Cruz ruled in a virtual hearingonSundayto send Anez,
   53, and two ministers in her caretaker government to pre-trial
   detention after prosecutors had initially for six months as a
   "precautionary" measure.

   Anez was arrested Saturday on terrorism, sedition and conspiracy
   charges.

   The United States, European Union, and right groups, including
   InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and the U.N. High
   Commissioner for Human Rightshavecalled on Bolivia to follow due
   process without political interference.

   Anez, a lawyer and former senator for the center-right Democrat Social
   Movement, took power after her predecessor Evo Morales and most
   parliamentarians from his MAS party resigned and fled the country in
   November 2019 as violent protests erupted across Bolivia amid
   accusations that he rigged the election.

   The claims were supported by international organizations.

   At least 33 people were killed, 30 of them after Anez took office.

   Morales returned to Bolivia from exile after his former economy
   minister, current President Luis Arce led MAS to win the
   electionslastOctober.

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