The internal dispute within the Movimiento Al Socialismo (MAS) reached a new level of violence this Monday in La Paz. The party headquarters in the Miraflores area was taken over by Arcista activists led by Deputy Rolando Cuéllar.
In response, followers of Evo Morales mobilized and regained control of the building. The situation escalated to the point that several involved fled across the roofs of neighboring buildings.
From early hours, Cuéllar and a group of Arcista activists entered the headquarters using a ladder. Once inside, the deputy tore down posters and portraits of Evo Morales, whom he called a "pedophile." Amid chants, he announced they would burn all images of the former president and reclaim the MAS house for the activists.
The Arcistas justified their action by claiming that the headquarters legally belongs to the party and not to the Frente Para la Victoria (FPV), which currently supports Morales's candidacy. "This is our house, we won't allow a serial rapist to take it over," Cuéllar stated. His followers proceeded to erase the graffiti and repaint the walls.
Minutes later, a group of Evistas arrived at the scene to evict the occupants. Violent clashes occurred between both sides.
[IMAGE]{893966}[/IMAGE]
Cuéllar was seen firing firecrackers at the followers of the former dictator Evo Morales. The situation turned chaotic when the Evistas managed to forcefully enter the headquarters.
Faced with the onslaught, the Arcistas chose to flee. Several activists, including Cuéllar, escaped across the roofs of neighboring buildings. In videos shared on social media, activists are seen desperately climbing to avoid being caught by their former party comrades.
The Evistas, after retaking the headquarters, held a press conference where they displayed a shoe, claiming it belonged to Cuéllar. "This is the shoe of a criminal, he fled upon seeing the people's fury," declared lawyer Wilfredo Chávez. However, it was discovered that the footwear did not match what the deputy wore during the takeover.
Hours later, Cuéllar replied to the accusations in a press conference. He showed a cut on his finger and alleged an assassination attempt. "They tried to kill me inside the headquarters," he claimed.
What drew attention was his claim that he lost "five liters of blood," which raised doubts about the veracity of his testimony. This is because with such an amount of blood loss, the deputy would have suffered hypovolemic shock.
Are the Evistas still Masistas?
[IMAGE]{893969}[/IMAGE]
Meanwhile, the Evista wing announced legal actions against Cuéllar and the Arcistas for "illegal trespassing." "The headquarters is owned by Leonilda Zurita, not by the government or Cuéllar," argued lawyer Cristian Velasco. They demanded that authorities act against those responsible for the takeover.
Despite police intervention to prevent further aggression, tension persists. The conflict between Evistas and Arcistas not only reflects the internal fracture of MAS. It also shows the struggle for control of its leadership and political structure.
One of the aspects that raises questions in this dispute is the insistence of the Evistas on maintaining control of the MAS headquarters. This despite Evo Morales having already formalized his alliance with the Frente Para la Victoria (FPV). If Morales is no longer part of MAS, why do his followers seek to retain a space that belongs to the regime?
The images of activists escaping across the roofs reflect the level of the dispute. What began as a fight over a building has turned into an open battle for leadership within MAS. With accusations, aggressions, and clashes, the conflict is far from being solved.
The clashes between Arcistas and Evistas not only expose the internal fracture of a declining party. They also reveal an irresponsible power struggle, while the country collapses under the weight of misguided economic decisions. They dispute the party's headquarters when, between the two sides, they have contributed to the crisis now affecting millions of Bolivians.
