Protesters converge on downtown Toronto to oppose Bolivian coup regime's attempt to destroy democracy
Photo Credit: (Jay Watts/Communist Party of Canada)
Written by: Aidan Jonah
Dozens of people came out to stand in solidarity with the Bolivian people, in their fight to restore democracy, and take control back from Jeanine Anez’s coup regime, at a rally hosted by the Communist Party of Canada today.
The protest was held at Matt Cohen Park, on the final day of voting in the Bolivian presidential election, with polls closing at 5 p.m. EST.
Jay Watts, Central Organizer of the Communist Party of Canada, said the “No New Coup in Bolivia! Support Democracy” rally was organized to expose Canada’s complicity in the Bolivian coup government‘s attacks on democracy, and show solidarity with the Bolivian people.
The Bolivian coup government has recently worked to intimidate leftist election observers, including Max Blumenthal of The Grayzone, and independent journalists such as Ollie Vargas.
Meanwhile, the Organization of American States electoral mission, whose false report on the 2019 elections was utilised as justification for the coup against Indigenous socialist president Evo Morales, has been welcomed into the country.
Canada was one of the first countries to support the Bolivian coup government, and continues to allow mining companies to do business in Bolivia despite atrocities committed by Anez’s regime.
Watts slammed the Bolivian coup regime, “The Anez coup regime and its backers – some descandents of literal escaped fascists from the World War Two era – have been looting the country as they repress people,” Watts called out the Canadian government for supporting it:. “Right across the street is the office of Chrystia Freeland, who was the Foreign Affairs Minister who recognized this illegitimate government.”
The Canadian government stayed silent as the Bolivian coup government delayed the elections numerous times, with christo-fascist coup leader Fernando Camacho begging the OAS to delay the election saying that it would constitute the “resurrection of MAS”. The election was delayed until October 19, with the coronavirus used as justification.
Ivan Byard, General Secretary of the Young Communist League of Canada, noted that the Bolivian people "haven't stood down. They continue to fight, and they continue to organize, to the point where [Áñez] was forced to resign." Byard added that there were parallels between the Canada-supported coup government and the mass-arrests being inflicted upon Indigenous land defenders in Canada this week.
The day before voting, the Bolivian regime held a military parade on the streets of major cities across the country, and thanked soldiers for “removing the dictator [the illegal coup against Morales]”. The preliminary elections results system was then scrapped 12 hours before election, meaning results won’t be known until Wednesday.
OSSTF and Common Frontiers member Domenic Bellisimo spoke about how fellow teachers were targeted by the coup regime, and expressed solidarity with those teachers.
All co-organizers of the event: the Toronto Association for Peace and Solidarity, Young Communist League, Latin American and Caribbean Solidarity Network and the Communist Party of Canada expressed their solidarity with the Bolivian people, and called for fair and free elections which respect the will of Bolivians.
Update: Ollie Vargas is reporting that Bolivia exit polls were supposed to have been published over an hour ago. Suspicions are growing that the election officials are working to manipulate results against MAS.
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