Wilma Alanoca was intercepted by the Police in La Paz and taken for investigation regarding her alleged participation in the protests and blockades that paralyzed the country for weeks
The Bolivian police arrested Wilma Alanoca, former Minister of Cultures during Evo Morales' regime, in a new episode of the political crisis that Bolivia is experiencing after weeks of blockades, protests, and confrontations between the government and sectors aligned with the former dictator. According to authorities, the former official was taken to the facilities of the Special Force to Fight Crime (FELCC) for investigative purposes.
The arrest took place in Plaza Murillo in La Paz, where Alanoca was scheduled to hold a press conference. According to her own account, several police officers intercepted her and informed her that she had to accompany them to give a statement.
The former minister of the dictatorship of Evo Morales, Wilma Alanoca
The Bolivian government claims that Alanoca played a significant role in organizing and coordinating the mobilizations that blocked roads for more than seven weeks, causing shortages and generating millions in losses for the national economy. Authorities are investigating possible links between leaders close to Evo Morales and the protests demanding the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz.
The news takes on even greater political significance because just hours before her arrest, media outlets aligned with the evismo reported that Alanoca had been presented as a possible running mate for Morales in future political projects.
From Evo Morales' circle, there was a quick reaction denouncing an alleged political persecution. The former dictator stated that the arrest violates the rights of the former minister and demanded her immediate release. However, the government responded that the investigations are part of efforts to clarify the responsibilities behind the blockades that affected millions of Bolivians during the recent crisis.
Supporters of Evo Morales blocking a road
Alanoca's arrest occurs in a particularly delicate context for Morales. The former dictator is currently facing legal proceedings and an arrest warrant related to a case of alleged aggravated human trafficking, a situation that keeps him sheltered in his political stronghold of Chapare.
For Rodrigo Paz's government, the investigation against Alanoca is part of a broader offensive aimed at identifying those who promoted the protests and blockades that attempted to destabilize the country. Meanwhile, the opposition claims that the Executive is seeking to politically weaken the movement led by Evo Morales after the failure of the mobilizations that aimed to force the president's departure.
