Argentinian researchers barred from Bolivia: Morales

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - Bolivia's former president Evo Morales claimed that a 14-member Argentinian delegation was stopped by the de facto government on their way to the capital La Paz to carry out a human rights investigation.

"14 members of the Argentine delegation were held by coup groups in Santa Cruz and subjected to interrogation by the police," Morales said Thursday on Twitter.

"We demand that you let them arrive at La Paz to do research on human rights," he said. "Fascist dictatorship proves its authoritarianism."

The Bolivian Ombudsman's Office on Wednesday reported the death of Calixto Huanacu, the tenth victim of the military-police operation carried out on Nov. 19, in Senkata, El Alto.

Huanacu's death came with severe cranioencephalic trauma due to a gunshot wound, according to the institution.

Meanwhile, the interim government of Bolivia that urges Mexico to turn over Morales and his senior aides who took refuge in Central American country, continues to reverse the former president's policies.

Upon restoration of diplomatic ties with the U.S. and appointing the first ambassador to Washington after 11 years, the government of Jeanine Anez also reestablished ties with Israel that were severed by Morales in 2009 in response to Israeli offensive on Gaza that killed hundreds of civilians.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry welcomed the move.

Morales throughout his tenure defended the human rights of Palestinians, and Operation Cast Lead of Israel -- a 22-day military assault on the Gaza Strip in December 2008 -- was the straw that broke camel's back for the leftist former government of Bolivia.

Israel's operation left 1,400 Palestinians dead and thousands injured.

Turmoil in Bolivia began in October, when Morales won a fourth term in office and faced immediate resistance from opposition parties that challenged election results. Protesters took to the streets claiming the ballot was rigged.

After weeks of upheaval, Morales resigned under pressure from the military and moved to Mexico, where he was offered political asylum.

Conservative Senator Anez then proclaimed herself interim president.

But public demonstrations have yet to subside, with mostly rural and indigenous pro-Morales supporters taking to the streets, including La Paz, as well as Sacaba and Cochabamba, since he left the country saying his ouster was a coup.