Bolivian prosecutors on Sunday, sought six-month pre-trial detention of country's ex-President Jeanine Anez. AFP reported that in the indictment, prosecutors have asked for provisional imprisonment of Anez, 53, and two ministers in her year-long caretaker government as a "precautionary" measure.

Three of them were apprehended on Saturday on terrorism, sedition and conspiracy charges. The charges are linked to the ousting of Anez's predecessor Evo Morales who claims that it was a coup d'etat

As the most senior parliamentarian left after Morales and his allies fled the country in November 2019 following weeks of demonstrations over disputed elections, rightist conservative Anez took over as caretaker president.

Her arrest came months after Morales returned to Bolivia from exile on the back of a fresh election victory in October 2020 for the leftist Movement for Socialism (MAS) party he founded.

The presidency and congress are now back under the control of MAS.

Anez claimed political persecution as the UN, European Union and United States called for due process to be respected.

'Arbitrary, illegal'

Opposition leaders in Bolivia, too, decried the arrests, and civic and human rights groups called for protests in several cities and towns for Monday.

Carlos Mesa, a centrist former Bolivian president, took to Twitter to describe Anez's detention as "arbitrary, illegal, and a violation of her human rights."

It also demonstrates, he said, a willingness on the part of the MAS to "violate the laws and the rule of law to persecute and violently subdue Bolivians who believe in democracy and freedoms."

(With AFP inputs)

Bolivian prosecutors on Sunday, sought six-month pre-trial detention of country's ex-President Jeanine Anez. AFP reported that in the indictment, prosecutors have asked for provisional imprisonment of Anez, 53, and two ministers in her year-long caretaker government as a "precautionary" measure.

Bolivian prosecutors on Sunday, sought six-month pre-trial detention of country's ex-President Jeanine Anez. AFP reported that in the indictment, prosecutors have asked for provisional imprisonment of Anez, 53, and two ministers in her year-long caretaker government as a "precautionary" measure. Three of them were apprehended on Saturday on terrorism, sedition and conspiracy charges. The charges are linked to the ousting of Anez's predecessor Evo Morales who claims that it was a coup d'etat As the most senior parliamentarian left after Morales and his allies fled the country in November 2019 following weeks of demonstrations over disputed elections, rightist conservative Anez took over as caretaker president. Her arrest came months after Morales returned to Bolivia from exile on the back of a fresh election victory in October 2020 for the leftist Movement for Socialism (MAS) party he founded. The presidency and congress are now back under the control of MAS. Anez claimed political persecution as the UN, European Union and United States called for due process to be respected. 'Arbitrary, illegal' Opposition leaders in Bolivia, too, decried the arrests, and civic and human rights groups called for protests in several cities and towns for Monday. Carlos Mesa, a centrist former Bolivian president, took to Twitter to describe Anez's detention as "arbitrary, illegal, and a violation of her human rights." It also demonstrates, he said, a willingness on the part of the MAS to "violate the laws and the rule of law to persecute and violently subdue Bolivians who believe in democracy and freedoms." (With AFP inputs)

Bolivia: Prosecutors want six-month pre-trial detention for ex-President Anez

Bolivia's former interim President Jeanine Anez landed behind bars on Saturday in the capital of the country she led just six months ago after the new government arrested her on claims she participated in a 2019 coup to seize power.

Anez and a raft of ministers and security officials face charges of terrorism, sedition and conspiracy over an alleged coup against Morales, according to an arrest warrant she posted on social media.

Anez led Bolivia for less than a year after long-time former President Evo Morales left office following contested elections and violent protests. The arrest, which critics call unconstitutional, escalated hostilities between the current socialist administration of Morales' political ally and successor President Luis Arce, and more conservative opponents it accuses of ousting Morales.

Hours after a dawn raid on Anez's home in the central city of Trinidad, she was pictured behind bars in a women's holding cell in La Paz awaiting a judicial hearing due to take place within 24 hours.

She claimed to be the victim of "aberrant political persecution."

In letters to the Organization of American States and the European Union, Anez appealed for observer missions to evaluate her arrest and those of her former energy and justice ministers.

"It is an absolute outrage, they are accusing us of being accomplices of an alleged coup," Anez told local television as she arrived in a military plane at a La Paz airport under heavy police escort.

"There is not a grain of truth in the accusations. It is simple political intimidation. There was no coup. I took part in a constitutional succession."

Anez took power in late 2019 after Morales resigned amid widespread violent protests against his government over allegations he fraudulently won an election when running for an unprecedented and unconstitutional fourth term.

At least 33 people were killed in violence that followed the election, 30 of them after Anez took office.

Morales' Movement for Socialism party, now headed by Arce, his former economy minister, swept back to power in a landslide election last October, prompting Morales to return from exile in Argentina.

Government Minister Eduardo del Castillo confirmed on Saturday that the Public Prosecutor's Office had detained Anez for involvement in a "coup in our country."

He insisted due process would be followed.

"There is no political persecution on our part here, and we do not fear anyone who thinks differently," he told a news conference.

Julie Chung, the U.S. State Department's acting assistant secretary for its Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, urged "our friends and neighbours in Bolivia" to uphold civil rights and guarantee detainees due process.

"Americans and many across the Americas know from hard experience the need to safeguard and constantly renew democratic rule of, by, and for the people," she tweeted.

'WE ARE ALL JEANINE'

Luis Fernando Camacho, a lawyer and civic leader who became a powerful opposition figure and led protests against Morales in the 2019 election impasse, has also been named by prosecutors as wanted in relation to the alleged coup.

Any attempt to detain Camacho, recently elected as governor of the wealthy, industrial city of Santa Cruz to the east, could provoke civil unrest.

He told reporters on Saturday evening he was confident his supporters in the city would defend him.

"We are not going anywhere. This is my town, I am going to stay with the people who were in that fight ... to peacefully defeat the electoral fraud of Morales and MAS," he said.

Other opposition leaders who ran against Arce in the last election also spoke out against the arrests.

Carlos Mesa, a former president and candidate for the presidency in the 2019 election, told a press conference that Bolivia was flirting with Venezuelan-style autocracy.

"This is not a legal problem, this is a political problem," he said.

Anez's former Interior Minister Arturo Murillo, who was also named in the arrest warrant but is thought to have left Bolivia following Arce's election, tweeted "We Are All Jeanine."

"(Anez) gave her all for Bolivia, including her freedom," he wrote.

The Americas director of Human Rights Watch, Jose Miguel Vivanco, said the arrest warrants contained no evidence to support a claim of "terrorism."

"They generate justifiable doubts about whether this is not a politically motivated process," he added.

Bolivia's former interim President Jeanine Anez landed behind bars on Saturday in the capital of the country she led just six months ago after the new government arrested her on claims she participated in a 2019 coup to seize power.

Bolivia's former interim President Jeanine Anez landed behind bars on Saturday in the capital of the country she led just six months ago after the new government arrested her on claims she participated in a 2019 coup to seize power. Anez and a raft of ministers and security officials face charges of terrorism, sedition and conspiracy over an alleged coup against Morales, according to an arrest warrant she posted on social media. Anez led Bolivia for less than a year after long-time former President Evo Morales left office following contested elections and violent protests. The arrest, which critics call unconstitutional, escalated hostilities between the current socialist administration of Morales' political ally and successor President Luis Arce, and more conservative opponents it accuses of ousting Morales. Hours after a dawn raid on Anez's home in the central city of Trinidad, she was pictured behind bars in a women's holding cell in La Paz awaiting a judicial hearing due to take place within 24 hours. She claimed to be the victim of "aberrant political persecution." In letters to the Organization of American States and the European Union, Anez appealed for observer missions to evaluate her arrest and those of her former energy and justice ministers. "It is an absolute outrage, they are accusing us of being accomplices of an alleged coup," Anez told local television as she arrived in a military plane at a La Paz airport under heavy police escort. "There is not a grain of truth in the accusations. It is simple political intimidation. There was no coup. I took part in a constitutional succession." Anez took power in late 2019 after Morales resigned amid widespread violent protests against his government over allegations he fraudulently won an election when running for an unprecedented and unconstitutional fourth term. At least 33 people were killed in violence that followed the election, 30 of them after Anez took office. Morales' Movement for Socialism party, now headed by Arce, his former economy minister, swept back to power in a landslide election last October, prompting Morales to return from exile in Argentina. Government Minister Eduardo del Castillo confirmed on Saturday that the Public Prosecutor's Office had detained Anez for involvement in a "coup in our country." He insisted due process would be followed. "There is no political persecution on our part here, and we do not fear anyone who thinks differently," he told a news conference. Julie Chung, the U.S. State Department's acting assistant secretary for its Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, urged "our friends and neighbours in Bolivia" to uphold civil rights and guarantee detainees due process. "Americans and many across the Americas know from hard experience the need to safeguard and constantly renew democratic rule of, by, and for the people," she tweeted. 'WE ARE ALL JEANINE' Luis Fernando Camacho, a lawyer and civic leader who became a powerful opposition figure and led protests against Morales in the 2019 election impasse, has also been named by prosecutors as wanted in relation to the alleged coup. Any attempt to detain Camacho, recently elected as governor of the wealthy, industrial city of Santa Cruz to the east, could provoke civil unrest. He told reporters on Saturday evening he was confident his supporters in the city would defend him. "We are not going anywhere. This is my town, I am going to stay with the people who were in that fight ... to peacefully defeat the electoral fraud of Morales and MAS," he said. Other opposition leaders who ran against Arce in the last election also spoke out against the arrests. Carlos Mesa, a former president and candidate for the presidency in the 2019 election, told a press conference that Bolivia was flirting with Venezuelan-style autocracy. "This is not a legal problem, this is a political problem," he said. Anez's former Interior Minister Arturo Murillo, who was also named in the arrest warrant but is thought to have left Bolivia following Arce's election, tweeted "We Are All Jeanine." "(Anez) gave her all for Bolivia, including her freedom," he wrote. The Americas director of Human Rights Watch, Jose Miguel Vivanco, said the arrest warrants contained no evidence to support a claim of "terrorism." "They generate justifiable doubts about whether this is not a politically motivated process," he added.

Bolivia ex-President Anez behind bars, alleges persecution over coup claims

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