Dismantling corruption entrenched in the State will not be an easy task | No será tarea sencilla desmontar corrupción incrustada en el Estado

By El Diario:

Mafias and lodges willing to do anything

  • They state that the degree of insecurity prevailing in the country has been laid bare, especially within state institutions previously controlled by “masismo,” where groups remain willing to do anything to maintain a certain level of power.
  • They warn that, under current circumstances, any action to curb corruption or any denunciation on this issue will provoke a dangerous response against those who confront circles of corruption.
  • They call for investigations into the murder of Mauricio Aramayo not only to establish responsibility for the crime, but also to confirm the truthfulness of revelations about alleged threats against the former official for refusing to accept bribes.
Deputy Lissa Claros (Libre alliance).

Stating that the murder of the departmental coordinator of the Christian Democratic Party (PDC) in Tarija is more than an issue with political overtones and instead one of security, Deputy Lissa Claros Lora of the Libre alliance said this death reveals the existence of criminal lodges embedded in state institutions and that the task of eradicating corruption in the country will not be simple.

“This is clear evidence that criminal gangs are embedded within institutions, where, for refusing to yield to whims or to the payment of bribes, this event occurred,” Claros said at a press conference.

According to the legislator from the department of Potosí, this incident has demonstrated the level of insecurity in the country, particularly inside state bodies previously controlled by “masismo,” where groups accustomed to operating outside the law remain, willing to do anything to preserve a certain kind of power.

“It has been shown that we have absolutely no security in any institution to work; I believe this must be investigated effectively and immediately,” she said.

Claros recalled that the Libre alliance had already warned of the need to eradicate corruption from state bodies by removing personnel linked to “criminal lodges” that “masismo” deliberately embedded during its nearly twenty years in power—a practice that now generates insecurity when reporting alleged irregularities.

She also asserted that, in the current circumstances, any act to cut corruption or any complaint made on this issue will generate a dangerous response, with the possibility of death for those who confront the circles of corruption operating within the state.

“Anyone who reports irregular acts at this moment is in total insecurity, because upon leaving here, on the corner, anything could happen to us. This is not a political issue, but evidence that these lodges are sending a clear message to all of us who are investigating acts of corruption not to confront them,” she said.

Finally, Claros stated that many of her parliamentary colleagues are intimidated and afraid to denounce acts of corruption, precisely out of fear that the response from these groups will be similar to what occurred in the city of Tarija with the murder of a person close to President Rodrigo Paz, carried out by two hooded individuals. “I believe we must join efforts to eradicate corruption and these criminal gangs from our institutions and recover Bolivia from corruption.”

On Thursday night, the murder of Mauricio Aramayo was reported. He was a close collaborator of President Paz, departmental coordinator of the PDC in Tarija, and former departmental director of the National Service of Agricultural Health and Food Safety (Senasag).

According to witnesses, two hooded individuals on a motorcycle intercepted the vehicle in which Aramayo was traveling, fired several shots, and then fled. Police later assisted him, and while he was being taken to a medical center, he died.

Through her social media accounts, presidential spokesperson Carla Faval expressed her sorrow and indignation at the way Aramayo lost his life, highlighting his commitment to the country and to President Paz’s administration.

She also revealed that the former official had been the target of threats for refusing to accept a bribe while serving as Senasag’s departmental director, thereby confronting “mafias” that allegedly operate with and from that institution.

“He was an upright and principled public servant who defended legality even knowing the risks. Today that courage pains us: he paid with his life. My solidarity with his family and a firm commitment that this crime will not go unpunished. The fight against corruption cannot continue to claim lives,” Faval stated.

From the alliance, Deputy Edwin Huiza called for the investigations not only to establish responsibility for the crime, but also to be expanded to confirm the truthfulness of the revelations about alleged threats against the former official for refusing to accept bribes. “The public deserves clear answers about these events and a determination of whether there were irregularities or improper links that could implicate other political actors,” he added.

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