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

Bolivians killed in massacre says UNASUR

Twenty Bolivians- mostly pro-government supporters- were killed as part of a massacre in September according to the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) bloc.

According to the head of inquiries- Argentine Rodolfo Mattarollo- the deaths in the conflict-torn province of Pando were "a massacre under the UN definition of the word." In addition, Mattarollo claimed that local authorities including Pando’s former prefect are implicated in the massacre and other acts of violence.

In a report last month, human rights organization Amnesty International described the situation in Bolivia:

In September, civilians linked to some regional authorities opposed to President (Evo) Morales blocked roads, and forcibly seized airports and local branches of state offices. They also attacked media outlets and offices of several NGOs working with indigenous and peasant communities.

The violence in Pando led to a government edict of martial law which was recently removed by Morales.

Image- Canada.com (“Bolivian autonomist supporters hit a President Evo Morales supporter during Beni's autonomy referendum in Trinidad, about 540 km (336 miles) northeast of La Paz, June 1, 2008.”)
Sources- Canada.com, Amnesty International, Prensa Latina, Reuters Alertnet