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Ousted Bolivian President Morales Arrives in Mexico, Vows to Keep Fighting

After being forced to resign from office by his country’s military leaders over the weekend, Bolivian President Evo Morales and other members of his administration also came under direct physical attack by US-backed right-wing ‘opposition’ mobs, including threats to their families.

As a result, Morales was forced to flee his home and fly to Mexico, where he has been offered asylum by the administration of Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

According to Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, the Obrador government sent an officially marked Mexican diplomatic jet plane to Bolivia to collect Morales. While making a refueling stop in Peru, the plane was denied entry to the country’s airspace, forcing the pilot to land in neighboring Paraguay for refueling. Oddly, the plane had been allowed to refuel in Peru during its outbound journey en route to Bolivia.

Based on Washington’s well-documented history of interfering with Morales fights, it is very likely that the Peruvians were ordered by the Trump Administration to deny access to the Mexican aircraft.

Morales tweeted his regret in being forced out of his country, but vowed to fight on for his people and return again with “a renewed strength and energy”.

Back in Bolivia, new clashes have ensued between the new military junta and supporters of Morales. Numerous injuries have been reported as pro-Morales demonstrators are confronted by US-backed right-wing opposition crowds.

Morales also tweeted out an image described by him as “the first night after leaving the presidency, forced out in a coup by Mesa (political rival) and Camacho (right-wing opposition leader) who were backed by police.”

In lieu of the resignations of President Morales and his top three deputies – Adriana Salvatierra, the president of the Senate; Ruben Medinaceli, first vice president of the chamber and Victor Borda, president of the Chamber of Deputies – the Bolivian opposition lawmaker and the deputy vice president of the Senate, Jeanine Anez, has now declared herself as interim president, thus assuming the role of the presidency until a new round of elections are held. Anez is claiming she has a constitutional mandate. “That would be the constitutional succession, as established by the Constitution, given that the president of the Chamber of Deputies has also resigned,” stated Anez.

Not surprisingly, the swearing in of Anez was hailed as a victory by coup-backers in Washington DC.

However, US State Department has called on all “non-emergency” U.S. officials to leave Bolivia from Tuesday, citing “ongoing political instability” as more clashes broke out in the streets in response to Anez declaring herself interim president.

Morales denounced Anez’s move, taking to Twitter to declare that her move was “without legislative quorum, surrounded by a group of accomplices and supported by the armed military and the police who repress the people.”

President Evo Morales served three terms as President of Bolivia and was lauded internationally for dramatically raising the country’s living standards and reducing poverty through instituting sweeping social programs and aid for citizens, and posting an incredible 4% average economic growth over the last 13 years.

Although Morales won his reelection bid in October, his political rivals accused the election of voting irregularities, which was promptly followed by US-backed right-wing opposition mobs who began a campaign of violence and intimidation against Morales supporters and government officials.

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READ MORE BOLIVIA NEWS AT: 21st Century Wire Bolivia Files

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