By FABIAN CHITAY
Staff Writer
Tensions have risen in Bolivia following the November 10th resignation of Evo Morales, the first indigenous president of Bolivia. Morales stepped down following protests of the October election results and a suggestion by the Bolivian military to step down. The controversy arose from Morales remaining president for a fourth term, and although the Bolivian supreme court ruled that presidential limits were undemocratic, many felt that it was an authoritarian attempt to stay in power.
However, while some celebrate his step down from presidency as a win for democracy, Morales’ supporters on the left have asserted that the real threat to democracy is the military ‘suggesting’ that he step down and inserting an interim president, Jeanine Añez Chávez, that has shown to be unsupportive of the indigenous population. Her promise to return Jesus to the government palace was evocative of Bolivia’s history of colonialism and religious oppression.
Military and gang violence against the indigenous population has grown since Morales’ resignation, with a confirmed 23 people dead and at least 715 people injured. Demonstrators continue to call for Morales’ return.