Human Rights Foundation demanded the immediate release of Luis Fernando Camacho

The UN Working Group declared the detention of Luis Fernando Camacho arbitrary. According to its report, the deprivation of freedom of the governor of Santa Cruz violates several international treaties. Consequently, it recommends his immediate release and compensation.

The document also urged an investigation into his detention. The institution sent the document to the Masista Government for compliance. The public learned of the content last Friday.

Human Rights Foundation supports the position of the UN Working Group. The organization emphasizes that the report is not a mere recommendation. According to its criteria, it is a binding mandate that Bolivia must comply with immediately.

It argues that international treaties are part of the country's legal framework. Therefore, it demands Camacho's immediate release. Additionally, it announces measures to ensure compliance with the ruling.

Camacho's lawyer also spoke about the report. He assures that the State is obliged to release his client. He highlights that Bolivia is a signatory to international treaties that recognize the document's binding nature.

He announces that he will request an order to cease preventive detention. Otherwise, he will take legal measures to enforce compliance. He states that the document strengthens his client's defense.

The UN report also urges an investigation into Camacho's detention. It notes that he was taken violently in December 2022. More than 40 hooded agents participated in the operation mounted by the regime.

During the detention, threats, gunfire, and excessive use of force by the regime were reported. Subsequently, he was transferred to La Paz under questionable conditions. These circumstances reinforce the category of arbitrary detention.

The Masista Government has rejected the UN report, Justice Minister César Siles called the document biased and outdated. He argues that it doesn't reflect the progress of the trial against Camacho and announced that the State will request a review of the report. He claims that the document is not binding and doesn't oblige the release of the governor.

The UN report also mentions the political context of the detention because the deprivation of liberty responds to political motivations. It indicates that the principle of equality before the law was violated and considers that it seeks to repress opponents of the Government. This reinforces the classification of arbitrary detention, which is why it demands immediate corrective measures.

Doesn't Masismo care about violating human rights?

In response, the Government defends the legality of the process. It argues that Camacho faces charges for his alleged involvement in a coup d'état. It notes that the trial has progressed and that due process is guaranteed.

The former Masista deputy and current vice-consul of Bolivia in Argentina, Lidia Patty, rejected the UN Working Group's report. She stated that the organization “can't interfere in the country's internal affairs.” According to Patty, the Bolivian State is sovereign and governed by its Constitution, so it is not obliged to comply with the recommendation to release Camacho.

Human rights organizations insist on Camacho's release. Human Rights Foundation and other international actors warn of democratic risks. They denounce that the detention is an example of political persecution and demand that the Government comply with international treaties.

Camacho's lawyer has called a press conference to be held on Monday, March 31, in La Paz. The governor's family and his legal representatives will participate, and the event aims to inform about the actions to be taken. It is expected that international organizations will also join.

Meanwhile, Camacho's situation remains uncertain because he is still detained in Chonchocoro prison. His defense insists that his health is at risk, claiming that prison conditions affect his well-being. They have filed multiple appeals that have been rejected by the justice aligned with the Masista regime.

The UN Working Group has given the Government a deadline, requiring a report in six months on the actions taken. If there is no progress, it could refer the case to other instances. The United Nations could intensify pressure on Bolivia.

The opposition has denounced that the Government ignores international resolutions. It demands that the UN report be respected and suggests that Camacho's detention is a political reprisal. It calls for international organizations to intervene.

Instead of complying with what is stipulated by a specialized human rights body, Masismo has opted to dismiss it and justify Camacho's detention with political arguments. This attitude weakens the country's commitment to international treaties and also shows the regime's little respect for human rights.