Bolivia: Call on Congress to Investigate U.S. Involvement in the Coup d'Etat

House Foreign Relations Committee

President Evo Morales was the first indigenous president in his majority indigenous nation — one that has been ruled by a white European elite since the days of the conquistadors. On November 10, amidst political violence, right-wing senator Jeanine Anez has declared herself president, waving a bible. In 2013 she tweeted: “I dream of a Bolivia free of Indigenous satanic rites, the city is not for Indians, they should back to the mountains or the fields.”  

We demand answers and we demand action:  


1. Congress must hold hearings to determine the extent to which the U.S. government was involved in the planning or execution of this coup.
Specifically, did the U.S. directly aid the fascist Unión Juvenil Cruceñista paramilitary, a driving force behind the violence? And are there ties between the coup and U.S. companies with interests in Bolivian natural resources such as gas, lithium, and copper?


2. The Bolivian people must have free and fair elections as soon as possible.

Congress should request the United Nations send an electoral observation mission; it is the only global body with the legitimacy to carry out this mission.

Sponsored by
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Doyle Canning for Oregon
Eugene, OR

To: House Foreign Relations Committee
From: [Your Name]

Dear [recipient name will go here],

On November 10, a coup in Bolivia led to the resignation under duress of President Evo Morales. I am calling on Congress to take a stand and investigate the coup in order to determine the extent to which the U.S. government was involved in its planning or execution.

Hours before his forced resignation, Morales offered to hold new elections in an effort to ensure peace in the country. This gesture was immediately rebuffed by the opposition leaders, and protests erupted across the country with the goal of overthrowing the elected government.

Protesters burned the houses of government ministers and elected officials and trashed Morales’s home. The brother of Victor Borda, the president of Bolivia’s lower house of parliament, was taken hostage — resulting in Borda’s resignation. There were also several incidents of indigenous Bolivians being humiliated by opposition mobs. President Evo Morales was the first indigenous president in his majority indigenous nation — one that has been ruled by a white European elite since the days of the conquistadors.

Amidst political violence, right-wing senator Jeanine Anez has declared herself president, waving a bible vowing to bring religion back into the halls of government. This new "President" is most famous for her racist tweet in 2013 saying, “I dream of a Bolivia free of Indigenous satanic rites, the city is not for Indians, they should back to the mountains or the fields.”

It is time for Congress to take a stand and investigate the role played by the Trump Administration, U.S. Representatives and U.S. corporations in the Bolivian coup.
Bolivian media uncovered audio files of conversations between Bolivian opposition leaders that detail their plans to cause social agitation before and after the October 20 elections. Senators Marco Rubio, Bob Menendez and Ted Cruz are mentioned in these conversations as supporting regime change in the country. Congress should fully investigate these claims.

As Bolivia discusses and plans for a new election in the near future, we must ensure that this election is free and fair by requesting the United Nations send an electoral observation mission; it is the only global body with the legitimacy to carry out this mission.

Sincerely,
[your name will go here]
[your email address will go here] [your location will go here]