Former president Evo Morales on Sunday accused Bolivia's government of ignoring his request for dialogue over protests by his supporters in which 200 soldiers have been taken hostage. Morales made the accusation on his second day of a hunger strike, which he launched demanding the government negotiate with him. "I asked for immediate dialogue.
.. and the government's response was to arrest.
.. comrades and take them to La Paz," he said in a brief interview with AFP.
Morales's supporters began blocking roads starting last month to prevent his arrest on what the ex-leader calls trumped-up rape charges aimed at thwarting his political comeback. After 21 days of blockades, losses are estimated at $2.1 billion in various sectors, according to the Ministry of Productive Development.
On Friday, Morales supporters took more than 200 military personnel hostage in the central Chapare province, according to the foreign ministry. The defense ministry said it "strongly condemn(ed) the armed and violent takeover of military units," without giving any further details on the fate of the hostages. Separately, police arrested 66 people, adding to the dozens who have been apprehended since the roadblocks began on October 14.
Sign up to get our free daily email of the biggest stories! Close presidential aide Maria Nela Prada said Saturday that the state ombudsman's office was managing a dialogue. The government agrees to talk but only "to address issues that concern the executive branch and not ot.