Bolivia: Santa Cruz released men accused of plotting against President Evo

Caracas, Venezuela, 20 June 2008. Tonight, two men accused of plotting to kill President Evo Morales on Thursday were released by the District Attorney’s office of Santa Cruz. The men -Carlos Yovani Domínguez and Junior Fernando Vaca Méndez-belong to a rightist youth organization- Union Juvenil Cruceñista- in Santa Cruz. They were detained  at Trompillo airport minutes before the arrival of President Evo to Santa Cruz. The two men had a Mauser rifle, 300 ammunitions and a telescopic sight.

 Bolivain central government criticised their release of the two paramilitaries by the District Attorney’s office of Santa Cruz. At present, Santa Cruz local athorities attempt to become independent from central government and oppose a socialist drafted constitution. In May 2008, they promoted an illegal private consultation which they called as "referendum".  On Sunday, another Bolivian province, Tarija, would celebrate another private consultation asking for autonomy.  The Evo Morales´s administration was up for negotiations but separatists did not attend the conciliatory call.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez also condmned the recent release of the two men. Chavez recalled US interventionism in Bolivia and its support for separatist groups.     

Sources: Unionradio, Telesur, YVKE, ABI,

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