Bolivia: the battle for public opinion continues, and the restoration of democracy begins

Evo Morales committed electoral fraud in an attempted coup against Bolivian democracy.

Coup plotters: Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua, Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela and Evo Morales in Bolivia

Listening now to the OAS Permanent Council as it considers the situation in Bolivia and the governments of Mexico, Nicaragua and Venezuela are attempting to rewrite what took place. In the case of the latter two countries the irony that they claim to be defending human rights and democracy would be grounds for satire if it were not so tragic.

Evo Morales attempted to follow the path trod by Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela and Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua. Both succeeded in undermining the rule of law, judicial independence, and compromised the electoral system in a slow motion coup against their respective democratic systems. Maduro and Ortega succeeded, and Morales appears to have failed in Bolivia.

There had been long term slow coup carried out by Evo Morales that sought to perpetuate his regime for another term power. Morales had already been in office for 13 years and nine months in power, and would have completed 14 years in office at the end of the current term.

A coup d'état in #Bolivia?

Yes. When they tried to steal the elections of October 20 and perpetuate @evoespueblo in power.
Part 1 of the speech of Secretary General @Almagro_OEA2015 to the #OAS Permanent Council. #OEAenBolivia pic.twitter.com/UBvmQklbqn

— OAS (@OAS_official) November 12, 2019

Evo Morales and his regime undermined the rule of law in Bolivia, compromised the independence and integrity of the judiciary and the electoral system that violated democratic norms. Furthermore Morales tried to build a highway through a national park occupied by indigenous communities that met popular resistance in 2011 and again in 2017. Morales also ignored a 2016 referendum against scrapping presidential term limits, and the October 20th fraudulent election combined with repression of protesters was the last straw for many Bolivians.

Morales had the Latin American disease of autocrats, he didn't want to leave, and Bolivian democrats should remain vigilant. This is not over. This is why the opposition maintains mobilized and in the streets. Now is the time to focus on restoring peace, stability and organizing free and fair elections that meet international standards with full guarantees.
The Castro regime, its vassal state in Venezuela, and the rest of the Sao Paulo Forum are mobilizing to back Evo Morales, denouncing his departure, and still seek to carry out Morales's coup against Bolivia's democratic order.

Today, violent protests continue in the streets both against and in favor of Morales, and calls for civil war now by pro-Evo groups. However it is important to remember that the three killed in the protests are all members of the opposition. The democratic opposition must hold firm, and use non-violent tactics to bring order to the situation.

At the international level Cuba, Venezuela, China, North Korea and others will work with larger and informal communist networks to demonize the legitimate aspirations of Bolivians, with the aim of restoring Evo Morales in power.

The stakes are high. The tragedies unfolding in Nicaragua and Venezuela should be two cautionary examples for all Bolivian democrats.

The battle for international public opinion continues, but the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in Bolivia begins, and its success will play an important role in who wins the battle for international public opinion.

Behind these efforts to destabilize democracy in the region is the Castro regime, which underscores the importance of a democratic transition in Cuba for a democratic consolidation in Latin America.