Communists condemn coup d’état against Bolivian President Evo Morales

The coup d’état in Bolivia, in which legitimately re-elected president Evo Morales was forced out of office by the military, has brought immediate condemnation from democratic and progressive forces around the world. These include the parties which are members of the International Meeting of Communist and Workers Parties, many of whose statements are available at solidnet.org.

In Canada, the Communist Party’s Central Executive Committee released the following on November 11:

“The Communist Party of Canada condemns the coup d’état against Bolivian President Evo Morales and the MAS government and demands that the attacks on Morales and other MAS leaders, by right-wing gangs must stop. These include an attack on Evo Morales’ home, the fire-bombing of the homes of other MAS Ministers, and holding their relatives hostage in order to force their resignations. This is terror.

“We also demand an end to targeted attacks on the Communist Party of Bolivia which has consistently supported the MAS government and its progressive policies.

“The Communist Party demands that the safety of President Morales and other MAS leaders is protected by Bolivian authorities, and that the Canadian government and the international community must add their voices to this demand.

“President Morales’ decision to hold new elections was aimed to prevent bloodshed by the coup plotters, who have declared the October 20 re-election of Evo Morales ‘fraudulent’ after 13 years of their unsuccessful opposition to Morales’ popular government and policies benefiting the poor, the Indigenous Peoples, the working class and small farmers.  Morales led the first Indigenous led government in the Americas since colonization.

“The opposition did not accept new elections and the military then told Morales he had to resign. This is a coup backed by the military, the violent anti-democratic and racist opposition, the corporations and the wealthy, actively aided and abetted by the United States and Canada.

“The coup against President Morales and the MAS government is a virtual carbon copy of the attempted coup against the Maduro government in Venezuela last January.

“Given Canada’s support for the pretender Guaido and the coup plotters in Venezuela, we demand the Canadian government end – and make public- any Canadian involvement in the coup d’état in Bolivia, and that the government and Parliament unconditionally condemn the coup against President Morales and the MAS government.

“Global Affairs Canada issued a statement immediately following the October 20th election stating that they were “deeply concerned by additional reports of serious election irregularities.” This, and similar statements from the United States helped to fuel the violence from opposition forces. Yesterday, during the coup, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland issued a statement noting “the resignation of President Morales” and saying Canada would “support Bolivia during this transition and the new elections.” This recognizes and legitimizes a clearly unconstitutional coup in Bolivia.

“The blood covered fingerprints of US imperialism, the Organization of American States, and the Lima Group are all over these attempts to roll back and defeat progressive governments in Latin America.  How many more coups will there be against progressive governments elected in Latin America? How many more will Chrystia Freeland and Justin Trudeau support?

“Canada must end its support for and involvement in US regime change and covert operations around the world.   Working people in Canada want no part of this.”