Bolivia: Gov orders detention of Pando Prefect Leopoldo Fernandez

Paramilitaries ambushed to peasants and Prefect Fernández lied about massacre. Cobija (Pando), sep 12 (ABI).- A bridge placed at seven kilometres from Porvenir where a thousand of peasants were marching to Cobija (the capital of this Province) in rejecting the violence sponsored by the Prefect Leopoldo Fernandez, was the massacre-field because paramilitaries trained and financed by the Pando’s "tyrant" started on Thursday a massacre against to defenceless people.  The facts refuted to Fernandez, who had assured it was an armed confrontation "started" by the Government. Roberto Tito, a farmer who was in this place when the shooting started against to defenceless people, it is a testimony peasants marched unarmed, but surprisingly they listened the shootings and some peasants were fatally wounded.  Snipers placed on the top of trees shoot to crowd, but they didn’t take into account women, children who were mixed up among peasants, so they were armed jus for sticks and machetes.  "We were unarmed, but no as they say. We were stopped at seven kilometres near to Porvenir, after that, they attacked us, when we advanced near to the bridge we were  ambushed and shoot with machine guns," related Tito, sorrowful by already 10 of his friends were assassinated, to this Friday a no numbered of lost people was reported.  "The companion of misfortunes had to escape anywhere. They didn’t take into account neither children nor women. This was a massacre to peasants, this is something we wouldn’t accept," informed the farmer. The Tito’s testimony is supported by Senator Abraham Cuellar’ report, who says near to the bridge Cachuelita existed a hole with 10 meters wide and depth, for that trucks and people couldn’t cross. In these circumstances it occurred.  "The people were walking by foot, it has been a prefect’s prepared ambush, planned with armaments and the regrettable consequences are a lot of deceased peasants, the majority of them are from Local Authorities but no MAS’ members, although, these peasants organizations support the Government," Cuellar said.  

FERNANDEZ’S PARAMILITARES:  In September 2006, the Governance Ex Minister, Alicia Muñoz, denounced that the Prefect Leopoldo Fernandez trained in Cobija already one hundred of paramilitaries, dissimulating conform a force called "citizens security."  Although Fernandez rejected the truthfulness of that denounce, so Muñoz had photography and video recordings like piece of evidences, meanwhile, the Prefect’s citizens security boss Alberto Murakami, admitted the civil training. Murakami argued, in that time, it was about a hundred of "residents" trained for controlling, in view of a wave of "delinquent acts" and "shortage of policemen."  Muñoz made public this showing that the contrary Prefects weren’t acting legally like they asserted. The actual situation and the massacre, regrettably it says the ex-minister Muñoz was right.   Because after two years, those "citizen security’ members" did fully theirs duty for which were trained, at close range, they shoot against to defenceless people. But not only this, the paramilitaries, many of them Brazilian people, saw to kidnap to whom couldn’t escape of bullets. VICTIMS ESCAPED TO WOODLAND:  Within massacre, the peasants only had a way for surviving, they penetrate into the woodland, and meanwhile, paramilitaries were shooting on crowd.  "They are Prefect‘s and Provincial Road Service’s people who are equipped with machine guns and snipers because from the top of trees they have shoot us at close range," Tito related.  The leader peasant’ denounce was supported by the Senator Abraham Cuellar, who assured that last Friday, at 24 hours of massacre occurred, the paramilitary persecution to Pando’s peasants had continued.    "We know exist a ruthless persecution in Filadelfia and Cachuelita, which are nearby sectors to Cobija, the murders follow, they are killing people, people non-armed," Senator said. He accused to hired assassins financed by Pando’s authorities and they are walking armed even thought with machine guns, it forced, at least, a hundred of peasants escape to Brazil for taking refuge.  IT IS A MASSACRE:  In this context, yesterday was proved many people still were on road Porvenir-Puerto Rico, Porvenir-Filadelfia, and Porvenir-Cobija.  "There are people into the woodland who are exiting to roads asking refuge, help, and are there found and hit or murdered," Cuellar reported.  In this way, Cuellar asked is urgent the national authorities will take on relevant steps "for saving lives are in danger." "What is realizing is a terrible massacre, is a massacre, is a genocide against to innocents, against to non-armed people, they are persecuting to people authorities, local authorities, peasant leaders, and local leaders," he said. To Cuellar’s denounces others were added which indicated early Friday was found other deceased people into woodland and rivers, although it is officially not confirmed by any authority yet. IDH (Direct Incomes of Hydrocarbons), THE PRETEXT:  In this context, the mobilization of Sedcam (Provincial Road Service), paramilitaries, hired assassin and Prefect’s people, all financed by the Prefect Fernandez, supposedly asking for 30 percent of IDH resources, is only a mask for committing a hard attack. "Pando receives annually 8.000 Bs. for each person, whereas each La Paz’ person receives 240 Bs. according to IDH resources, so there aren’t arguments, Pando hasn’t land conflicts, the lands are legally distributed, so it is a trying of ambition," accused Cuellar.   According to Cuellar, some peasants had some shotguns and rifles they use for hunting, but when were ambushed and attacked they were obligated to responding to them.    Da/Dgav,   ABI, Translation: C.S.M.C.