MAS political persecution, 3 years of cowardly kidnapping | Persecución política del MAS, 3 años de secuestro cobarde

By Paulo Lizarraga, Vision 360:

Pumari on his arrest: “Three years of cowardly kidnapping, carried out by some who believe their position is eternal”

The former civic leader from Potosí is accused of the burning of the Departmental Electoral Tribunal in that region during the post-electoral conflicts of 2019.

Marco Pumari fue líder cívico y adquirió protagonismo durante los conflictos poselectorales de 2019. Foto: Archivo

Marco Pumari was a civic leader and gained prominence during the 2019 post-electoral conflicts. Photo: Archive

The former president of the Potosí Civic Committee (Comcipo), Marco Pumari, marked three years since his detention in Potosí through a handwritten note shared on social media. His arrest, which took place on December 9, 2021, involved a significant police operation.

In his written testimony, the ex-civic leader stated that over 2,000 police officers raided Comcipo’s offices to apprehend him, describing the event as a “cowardly kidnapping.”

“Three years have passed since more than 2,000 police officers came to my homeland to kidnap me, three years away from my home, three years of cowardly kidnapping carried out by some who believe their position is eternal,” Pumari expressed in his letter.

The former civic leader from Potosí is accused of involvement in the burning of the Departmental Electoral Tribunal during the 2019 post-electoral conflicts, after the OAS uncovered “deliberate manipulation” in the Presidential Elections to favor Evo Morales, the MAS candidate at the time.

“In 2019, all regions united to fight against that power-hungry man, whom the current government now calls a criminal, pedophile, and confessed offender. However, their cowardice in not arresting him shows they are a weak government, yet abusive and tyrannical towards the people, relying on their corrupt justice system that imprisons the innocent and lets the real criminals go free,” he added in the letter.

Pumari is also accused of terrorism and active bribery in the so-called “Coup I” case, initiated by former MAS deputy Lidia Patty.

The ex-civic leader concluded by stating that he does not feel “defeated” but rather “stronger and more prepared to continue fighting.”

“But let me be clear, three years ultimately mean nothing compared to the suffering of the people (…). My executioners were wrong; I am not defeated. I am stronger and ready to keep fighting for my homeland and all of Bolivia because these three years have strengthened me,” his letter reads.

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