Page 12 - AT

A12 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 13 november 2019
Evo Morales reaches Mexico as Bolivia seeks new leader

Associated Press hours after Morales had
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Evo accepted calls for a new
Morales, who transformed election by an Organiza-
Bolivia as its first indigenous tion of American States
president, flew to exile in team. The team reported
Mexico on Tuesday after a "heap of observed irregu-
weeks of violent protests, larities" in the Oct. 20 elec-
leaving behind a confused tion whose official results
power vacuum in the An- showed Morales getting
dean nation. just enough votes to avoid
Morales was met at Mexi- a runoff that analysts said
co City's airport by Foreign he could lose against a
Secretary Marcelo Ebrard united opposition.
after a flight from Bolivia Morales stepped aside
on a Mexican government only after the military chief
plane and repeated his called on him to quit, say-
allegations he had been ing that was needed to
forced to resign by a coup. restore peace and stabil-
"The president of Mexico ity. His vice president also
saved my life," Morales said, resigned as did the Senate
thanking President Andrés president. The only other
Manuel López Obrador for official listed by the con-
granting him asylum. He stitution as a presidential
vowed to "continue the successor, the head of the
struggle." Former Bolivian President Evo Morales waves upon arrival to Mexico City, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019. lower house, had resigned
Meanwhile, supporters and Associated Press earlier.
foes of Morales once again Morales called the ouster
headed for clashes in the occur or if it a majority of nations initially closed air- fee to neighbors who had a coup — a description
streets of Bolivia's capital senators would go along. space to it. The plane stayed out throughout the echoed by his allies and
Tuesday and military fight- Morales backers still have a stopped in Paraguay to re- night in the streets guard- others across the region
er jets occasionally roared majority in the body. fuel and was due to arrive ing homes and businesses. worried at the military's role
overhead on patrols. Several said that road- in Mexico later on Tuesday. Defense Minister Javier Za- in deciding who should be
An opposition leader blocks set up by Morales' Angry supporters of the so- valeta, a veteran politician president.
called for a Senate session opponents were compli- cialist leader set barricades and Morales ally, resigned But his critics said the ouster
to choose an interim lead- cating efforts to reach the ablaze to close some roads over the decision to deploy was caused by a popular
er, but it wasn't immediate- session. leading to the country's the military. revolt, not a coup.
ly clear if the body could Morales' departure was a main airport Monday, while Some sense of normalcy "Academics and the press
gather. dramatic fall for the one- his foes blocked most of the was returning to some have been very critical of
Prodded by military lead- time llama shepherd from streets leading to the capi- cities Tuesday, with busi- the Bolivian military. But this
ers, Morales stepped down the Bolivian highlands and tal's main square in front of nesses rolling up the metal might be the only time in
Sunday following weeks of former coca growers' union Congress and the presiden- sheets that had guarded Bolivian military history that
widespread protests fed leader who as president tial palace. Police urged them from looting in past the military is on the right
by allegations of electoral helped lift millions out pov- residents of La Paz to stay in days, but some services re- side for once," said Edu-
fraud in the Oct. 20 presi- erty, increased social rights their homes and authorities mained interrupted. ardo Gamarra, a Bolivian
dential election that he and presided over nearly said the army would join in Ronald Arias said he had political scientist at Florida
claimed to have won. 14 years of stability and policing efforts to avoid an left his home in El Alto and International University.
Resignations by every other high economic growth in escalation of violence. walked for three hours to "There's nothing here that
constitutionally designated South America's poorest Local media reported that his job in downtown La Paz remotely mirrors a tradition-
successor left unclear who country. Morales supporters were because the cable car al military coup," Gamarra
would take his place and In the end, though, his marching on La Paz from connecting the cities was added. "Perhaps this is
how. downfall was prompted the nearby city of El Alto, a suspended or security rea- a time that the military is
The Senate's second vice by his insistence on hold- Morales stronghold, to try to sons and the barricades playing a role that it should
president, opposition politi- ing onto power despite a break the street blockades blocked access to public play. It's not intervening in
cian Jeanine Añez, called public referendum against thrown up by his opponents transportation. what are essentially civilian
a legislative session on continuous reelections. and reach the capital's Like Morales, Arias is also affairs."
Tuesday to formally accept "It pains me to leave the main square. a native Aymara, and he Morales, who was from the
Morales' resignation and country for political rea- But the tensions were de- said he was proud of the poor Andean highlands,
choose an interim replace- sons, but I'll always be con- fused after Gen. Williams indigenous former leader. had promised to remain
ment. cerned," Morales said on Kaliman, the chief of the Thanks to him, his parents, austere when he became
Under the plan, she would Twitter. "l'll return soon, with armed forces, announced who live in the countryside president in 2006. But short-
take temporary control of more strength and energy." a joint police-military op- gained access for the first ly after, he bought a new
the Senate, making her Mexican Foreign Minister eration in a television ad- time to running water and airplane and built a 26-sto-
next in line for the presiden- Marcelo Ebrard published dress. He said the hope was gas for cooking. ry presidential palace with
cy. a photo of Morales holding to "avoid bloodshed and "I was so saddened by his a heliport.
"The country is experienc- the flag of Mexico, saying mourning of the Bolivian resignation," he said. "A lot "He fought poverty, he lifted
ing dramatic moments and that the plane had left Bo- family," and he urged Boliv- of people in El Alto shed our economy, but perhaps
all parliamentarians have livia and that Morales was ians to help restore peace. tears for the president." he wasn't well advised,"
the obligation to give cer- safe. "It was a night of fear. I Morales' presidency, the said España Villegas, a lin-
tainty to the country," she Ebrard said Mexican dip- couldn't sleep and I just longest among serving guist who watched tele-
told a news conference. lomats had to scramble to kept praying," said Yorka leaders in the region and vised replays of Morales'
But it wasn't immediately arrange a flight path for López, a homemaker, who the longest ever in Bolivia, resignation while awaiting
clear if the session would the plane because some handed out warm cof- ended abruptly Sunday, a flight at the airport.q