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LatinNews Regional Monitor: Andean Group - 13 March 2018
In brief: Bolivia
Bolivia: Bolivia’s President Evo Morales has presented a bill that would allow police officers and military personnel to use firearms, explosives, and other weapons to fight contraband smugglers. The bill is in response to the death of two sergeants in Bolivia’s armed forces, Vladimir Siñani and Fidel Chávez, who were killed by smugglers on 11 March in Oruro department. President Morales strongly condemned the murder of the sergeants and asked the legislative assembly to pass the bill quickly to strengthen the fight against smugglers by allowing the security forces to use equal firepower. The bill would also allow military and police officers exemption from criminal responsibility to allow them to do whatever is necessary when apprehending suspected smugglers. President Morales blamed Chile’s aggressive economic policies towards Bolivia as one of the factors contributing to the increase of contraband trafficking between the countries. On 12 March Bolivian security forces officials apprehended three suspects in connection with the murders in Oruro and are currently interrogating them to uncover any possible connections with criminal organisations or other suspects.
