Voz Liberal Bolivia expresses support for Dunn and rejects “political persecution” against those who “think differently” | Voz Liberal Bolivia expresa respaldo a Dunn y rechaza “persecución política” contra quienes “piensan diferente”

By Carlos Quisbert, Vision 360:

Statement

The organization also expressed its support for Jorge Valda and his family, describing his arrest as a “kidnapping and arbitrary detention.”

El analista Jaime Dunn fue sindicado en un video producido por el Ministerio de Gobierno. Foto: Jaime Dunn

The analyst Jaime Dunn was named in a video produced by the Ministry of Government. Photo: Jaime Dunn

The organization Voz Liberal Bolivia issued a statement expressing its support for economist and presidential pre-candidate Jaime Dunn, who was named in a video produced by the Ministry of Government as part of an alleged cabinet that would be appointed following the military uprising led on June 26, 2024, by former Army commander Juan José Zúñiga.

“The entire world is witnessing a concerning situation in Bolivia, where the socialist regime of Luis Arce and David Choquehuanca has begun political persecution against liberal pre-candidate Jaime Dunn. Because of his divergent opinions and growing image as an ideological alternative, they want to silence someone who won’t sell out. This persecution is expressed through crude attempts to link him to the self-coup of June 26, 2024, led by General Zúñiga. They are criminalizing politics; the powerful fear free citizens, and that is why they attack,” reads part of the statement issued by the organization.

Voz Liberal also pointed to the subjugation of the Judicial Branch, describing the actions of its operators as “fear of change.” Along these lines, they argue that the Ministry of Government publishing his name and that of eight other opinion leaders constitutes an attempt at censorship.

“Today they want to silence Jaime Dunn’s voice; tomorrow it could be any of us. They have shown this before—by kidnapping and imprisoning dissident civilians and politicians. Jail is for the corrupt, not for dreamers who defend freedom,” the statement says.

The political organization issued a call “to the Bolivian people and the international community,” asserting that it is tired of intolerance, repression, and uncertainty, and urging them to “speak out forcefully against this persecution and defend everyone’s right to express themselves freely without fear of retaliation. It is essential to respect diversity of opinion and to promote an environment of tolerance and respect,” the statement concludes.

Lastly, Voz Liberal Bolivia expressed its solidarity with human rights lawyer and activist Jorge Valda and his family, whose arrest is described as a “kidnapping and arbitrary detention.”

Valda was apprehended yesterday in Santa Cruz and brought to La Paz to face a precautionary measures hearing on charges of armed uprising. He was the first arrested among five individuals wanted under arrest warrants issued by prosecutor Franklin Alborta, following the presentation of the video produced by the Ministry of Government’s communications unit on Thursday night.

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