Page 12 - ARUBATODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 23 January 2020
Erasing Evo: Bolivian bid to remove his image draws backlash

By PAOLA FLORES played with Argentine star
Associated Press Diego Maradona at the
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — A Hernando Siles stadium in
man with a sledgehammer La Paz.
pounded at the bust of Upon hearing what was
his country's former leader happening at the Coch-
adorning a huge sports sta- abamba stadium, Morales
dium that his government tweeted from his self-exile
had built and named af- in Argentina: "When they
ter the then long-reigning destroy the bust with my
president. Ministers from image, they will be trying
the current government to make the popular indig-
applauded as the head enous movement disap-
came down. pear."
It was a scene reminiscent Bertha Quispe's poor neigh-
of some nations after the borhood in El Alto has a
fall of the Soviet Union, but soccer field with synthetic
it was taking place in the turf that was built under
Bolivian city of Cochabam- Morales. She doesn't like
ba and the object of the the government moving to
battering was former Presi- In this Jan. 13, 2020 photo, the destroyed bust of Bolivia's former President Evo Morales, lies on the erase his image.
dent Evo Morales. ground after it was knocked down on the orders of Bolivia's sports minister, outside a sports center "It doesn't make any sense,"
Morales fled Bolivia in No- in Cochabamba, Bolivia. she said. "That's not its role."
vember after losing the sup- Associated Press Morales resigned the presi-
port of the military and po- dency when the police
lice amid widespread pro- for more than 14 years as its power from Bolivia's indig- who helped topple the and army withdrew support
tests over a disputed elec- first indigenous president. enous majority and return it statue of Morales. Several after several weeks of dem-
tion. His supporters called it Áñez accuses Morales and to the traditional elite. people stepped on the fall- onstrations that erupted
a coup. Opponents say he his party of creating a "per- "I do not agree with the en bust with their feet as it over allegations of fraud
was forced from power af- sonality cult" around him, name change because lay the ground. in the Oct. 20 election that
ter manipulating the con- even building a museum in the end the name does "We want to go against Morales claimed to have
stitution to run for a fourth dedicated to the then not harm anyone," said the idolatry of Morales," won. The Organization of
term in office then seeking leader's life and presiden- Robin Higueras, expressing said Navarro. "He was cor- American States said its
to win that vote with elec- cy. her opposition to remov- rupt, a dictator. Sports fields audit found serious irregu-
toral fraud. But while the toppling of ing "Evo Morales" from the cannot bear the name of larities in the vote count.
Across Bolivia, the gov- the statues of former lead- name of the sports venue someone like that." An interim government
ernment of interim Presi- ers has often been greeted where she coaches young Following a decree signed took over and annulled the
dent Jeanine Áñez is tak- by broad social consen- soccer players in La Paz's Monday by Bolivia's cur- October election, schedul-
ing down statues, paint- sus in other countries, it is neighboring city of El Alto. rent president, the stadium ing new national elections
ing over murals, renaming facing backlash in Bolivia, María Teresa Zegada, a so- is just one of many venues for May.
soccer fields and stadiums, where Morales still has sup- ciologist and political ana- that will stop bearing the With the same fire that
and trying to erase the leg- porters, especially among lyst, said this is the first time name of the former presi- his successor now tries to
acy of Morales, who gov- the indigenous. They say such a dismantling of a for- dent. Navarro said they will erase his name, Morales
erned this Andean country his removal is a bid to wrest mer leader's image has oc- no longer be used for politi- did everything to put his
curred in Bolivia, because cal events or speeches. image and name into the
"we had never had any- Áñez argues that Morales most unexpected corners
thing so structured" before. used sports as a way to of Bolivian homes. Some
No president in Bolivia's his- campaign continuously. salt packages still bear his
tory governed for as long In 2007, Morales launched image as well as products
as Morales did. a program known as "Bo- that mothers receive free in
"The images of Morales livia Changes, Evo Comes state handouts.
weren't accidental. They Through," which was ini- Navarro, the sports minister,
were focused on sustaining tially financed by dona- said this is why Bolivia's inter-
the strongman regime pro- tions from then-Venezuelan im president extended her
moted by his ruling party," President Hugo Chávez campaign beyond sports
Zegada said of the omni- and later maintained with stadiums. Morales'' image
presence of his image in Bolivian state resources. has also been ordered re-
Bolivia. "History has shown Morales, a soccer player moved from computers
us at the world level that and a fan, used the money given to teachers and from
this happens with authori- to build soccer fields, sports youth soccer jerseys. Its use
tarian governments, be centers, schools and hospi- by high government offi-
they populism from the left tals. He even created youth cials for public works is also
or right. They end badly." soccer programs bearing prohibited.
In Cochabamba, the bust his name. In his 2018 presi- "The followers of Evo Mo-
at the entrance to the dential report, Morales said rales have to worship him,
"Evo Morales" sports venue that 1,763 sports field had tie the laces of his shoes,
was destroyed last week. been built in 10 years under find him diversion in his free
The venue's name will be the program. time, write songs and hymns
changed to "Quillacollo," Morales would often per- for his rejoicing," said Áñez.
after its location. sonally inaugurate the fields "I am certain that with this
Sports Minister Milton Na- by playing soccer against decree we are go to stop
varro was among those local officials. In 2008, he this personality cult."q