‘Army dictatorship type’: Bolivia’s Morales condemns takeover of state TV & radio stations (VIDEOS)

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Bolivian chief Evo Morales has slammed assaults on state media, that noticed rioters forcing journalists to depart their workplaces until they need them to be trashed. In a separate incident, a radio chief was tied to a tree.

Bolivia TV (BTV) and Patria Nueva (RPN) radio stations had been pressured to chop off their broadcast after a rowdy crowd of some 300 protesters descended on their HQ in La Paz, successfully placing it underneath siege on Saturday.

The demonstrators, reportedly enraged over the best way the protests which have gripped the South American nation since mid-October, are being portrayed by state media, demanded journalists vacate the premises in the event that they are not looking for their workplaces being raided.

Some 40 staff of each BTV and RPN finally collapse to the demand and left the constructing, whereas heckled by chanting protesters.

Patria Nueva director, Ivan Maldonado, stated that the journalists, who had been vastly outnumbered by the protesters, “had been evicted by pressure  after receiving fixed threats from folks gathered outdoors.”

In a remark to Sputnik, Maldonado pressured that the staff had been taken hostage by the group.

“Protesters surrounded our studios and held us captive for 2 hours, threatening to destroy our tools … if we didn’t cease our journalistic work,” he stated, noting that the station finally went off air, and resorted to taking part in music and movies.

The takeover was denounced by Morales on Twitter. The socialist chief famous that whereas protesters say they’ve taken to streets to defend democracy, their actions converse in any other case.

“They are saying they defend democracy, however they’re performing like dictatorial regimes”

Morales additionally condemned what he known as “a cowardly and savage assault” on a radio station run by a labour union  –   Unified Syndical Confederation of Rural Staff of Bolivia (CSUTCB) – of which Morales is a member.

The station was overrun by a gaggle of protesters on Saturday, who then rounded up its director, Jose Aramayo, and tied him to a tree. Movies and photographs of the seize have been gaining traction on on-line,  drawing backlash from Morales supporters.

There have been additionally stories that the station’s workplaces had been  ransacked by the protesters.

Tensions have been operating excessive in Bolivia, with opposition accusing the federal government of election fraud after Morales narrowly secured a 10-point lead in opposition to major challenger, Carlos Mesa, in October 20 common election, thus avoiding a runoff. Morales has denied allegations of tempering with the vote depend, and invited  the Group of American States (OAS) to audit the outcomes. The overview continues to be underway.

The protests sweeping throughout the nation have been marred by violence. Footage emerged on-line Sunday exhibiting the residence of Oruro metropolis governor Víctor Hugo Vásquez being engulfed in flames after protesters reportedly set fireplace to the buiding. The home was reportedly looted earlier than it was ravaged by the blaze.

 

The governor, who’s an ally of Morales, has been moved to a secure place.  

In an announcement on Saturday, the Armed Forces stated that they wouldn’t confront folks “to whom [they] have an obligation.” There have been stories that some police and navy had been noticed marching together with the protesters.

On Friday, the Bolivian international ministry  denounced servicemen who “deserted their constitutional position” of defending the society and state establishments.

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