Trump applauds; Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, and Sanders condemn coup in Bolivia
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Monday became the second U.S. lawmaker to condemn the resignation of Bolivia's socialist President Evo Morales as a "coup."
Morales was forced to resign Sunday under threat from the nation's military, police, and violent right-wing protestors.
The resignation followed Morales' announcement that he would hold new elections after the U.S.-dominated Organization of American States (OAS) questioned his October 20 victory.
Ocasio-Cortez, a freshman Democrat from New York, tweeted in both Spanish and English Monday afternoon: "What's happening right now in Bolivia isn't democracy, it's a coup."
Her comment echoed those of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.):
"There's a word for the President of a country being pushed out by the military: It’s called a coup."
"We must unequivocally oppose political violence in Bolivia. Bolivians deserve free and fair elections."
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) also took to Twitter to express his concern "about what appears to be a coup in Bolivia."
"The U.S. must call for an end to violence and support Bolivia’s democratic institutions," Sanders added.
Just Foreign Policy responded by thanking Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez, and Omar "for standing up for Bolivian democracy."
President Donald Trump on Monday called Morales' resignation "a significant moment for democracy in the Western Hemisphere."
"Morales' departure preserves democracy and paves the way for the Bolivian people to have their voices heard."
Tanks have been seen in the streets of La Paz (Bolivia's capital), homes of Morales officials have burned, and hundreds have been injured - including numerous disappearances and reports of torture - since yesterday's coup.
Coup leader Luis "Macho" Camacho, 40 - a religious fundamentalist and the scion of a local natural gas baron - reportedly met with Ivanka Trump during her September 5 visit to neighboring Jujuy, Argentina.
At: https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/11/11/ocasio-cortez-joins-chorus-critics-condemning-coup-bolivia-forced-out-socialist
Bolivian coup leader Luis "Macho" Camacho adresses the nation following his takeover yesterday of the presidential palace.
Amid the worst violence in the country since the 1980 Cocaine Coup, Bolivia remains without a formal head of state since President Evo Morales was ousted on Sunday as Camacho and right-wing senators jockey for power.
Camacho reportedly met with Ivanka Trump in neighboring Argentina during her September 5 visit.
= new reply since forum marked as read
