« Indigenous Groups March for Increased Autonomy | Home | Indigenous Group Resumes March on La Paz »
Posted: Nate on Jul 08 | Politics
Rubén Costas, governor of Santa Cruz, has accused Vice President Álvaro García Linera of involvement in corruption, drug-trafficking, and terrorism. In comments last Tuesday, Governor Costas suggested that the Vice President “begin to build hundreds of prisons with the money he´s received from narcotraffickers” and said that when Vice President García Linera steps down from office, “he will have to answer for corruption, narcotrafficking, and terrorism in the ´prisoner´s seat´.”
Vice President García Linera immediately responded to Governor Costas´ accusations by calling for an official investigation into the matter and saying that he was answerable to constitutional processes. Yesterday, amid questions from journalists for proof of his accusations, Governor Costas partially retracted his previous statements. In his retraction, Governor Costas said, “I didn´t say that he [García Linera] has received narco money, but the narcotraffickers give money through Law 1008 (anti-drug). That the confiscated resources be used to build prisons, I think we´re twisting [my words] and wanting a telenovela.” Mr. Costas also said that he would not provide proof because he isn´t a “district attorney or judge” and said that the Vice President´s calls for an investigation was a distraction. Mr. Costa said the call for justice was only a strategy to catch opposition politicians because the administration “has a monopoly on justice” right now. Mr. Costa repeated his accusations that Mr. García Linera participated in the terrorist group EGTK, a Maoist guerrilla group active in the 1990´s.
Mr. Costas´ comments continue the combative exchange between Santa Cruz and La Paz that has been going on for several months. The state government of Santa Cruz is currently facing three lawsuits from the federal government concerning the state´s adherence to the referendum of statutes on autonomy and the state´s refusal to share information with the Ministry of Transparency and Anti-Corruption.
For more in Spanish see:
http://www.la-razon.com/version.php?ArticleId=4715&a=1&EditionId=130
3 Comments so far
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Wolacs, Bolivia Weekly. Bolivia Weekly said: http://www.boliviaweekly.com/governor-accuses-vice-president-of-drug-trafficking-then-retracts/931/ [...]
[...] Read Original Story Categories: Bolivia Tags: Comments (0) Leave a comment [...]
He is ,intel suggest it money is running like water in Bolivia warning style like prison in Cuba implemented 2012, example, 30 mil new plane! $8000,00 maintenance for trip. Where does he find 30,000.00 in Bolivia that would like having $2500,00 dollars for a plane