Bolivian prosecutor requests 6 months in pretrial detention for opposition leader Camacho

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LA PAZ/SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia (Reuters) – Bolivian prosecutors are seeking six months in pretrial detention for opposition Governor Luis Fernando Camacho, state prosecutor Omar Mejillones said on Thursday.

Camacho was arrested on Wednesday and detained in the political capital La Paz, heightening tensions between his wealthy agricultural base in the Santa Cruz region and the national government in La Paz.

Prosecutors have charged Camacho with “terrorism” and are also investigating crimes including dereliction of duty, abuse of influence and attacks on the president and high-ranking dignitaries, Mejillones said.

The charges relate to the November 2019 ousting of leftist former President Evo Morales. Morales had declared victory in a disputed presidential election that would have given him a fourth consecutive term, but ended up fleeing the country in amid fiery protests, some of which were carried out. by Camacho, a right-wing civic leader.

More recently, Camacho supported protests in Santa Cruz demanding that the national government conduct a deferred census. A new census would likely give his region more tax revenue and congressional seats.

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Camacho’s communications team released a statement released by the La Paz prosecutor’s office on Wednesday in which Camacho said the charges against him lacked truth and credibility.

On Thursday, Camacho’s communications team said on his Twitter account that authorities had blocked his lawyers from filing a constitutional complaint to free him. The tweets said his constitutional rights had been violated and he had been “kidnapped” and illegally taken to La Paz.

Mejillones said Thursday he had “no knowledge” of the lawyers who filed the appeal.

(Reporting by Kylie Madry and Raul Cortes; Editing by Brendan O’Boyle and Rosalba O’Brien)

Copyright 2022 Thomson Reuters.

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