De-facto Bolivian government threatens independent journalists

Independent journalists who are covering protests in Bolivia were accused of carrying out "sedition" by de-facto Communications Minister Roxana Lizarraga, who was paradoxically appointed by a U.S.-backed government that emerged from a coup d'etat against the socialist President Evo Morales.

"Law will be fully enforced against those journalists or pseudo-journalists who are seditious, whether they are nationals or foreigners," Lizarraga said and took the opportunity to blame Cuba and Venezuela for the ongoing social unrest in Bolivia.

“They want to put us on their knees,” she added and warned that the Interior Ministry already has a list of the journalists who are stirring up resistance or rebellion against the coup-born regime.

After these announcements, four Cuban doctors were arrested and accused of demonstrating against the interim government headed by Senator Jeanine Añez, who became the self-proclaimed president on November 12th.  The four are part of the Cuban Medical Brigade.

Despite the blockade that mainstream media are making to what is happening in the Andean country, expressions of international solidarity with the Bolivian people are multiplying.

In Mexico City, for instance, human rights defenders and social activists held a rally in front of the U.S. embassy in rejection of the coup d'etat, which is being consummated under the auspices of the Organization of American States (OAS).

"We are all invited to denounce the U.S. empire's blatant interference in this country," the rally organizers said and added that the Bolivians will keep a stubborn resistance against the racist oligarchy.

Among the organizations summoning the rally are local solidarity committees with Bolivia, Cuba, and Venezuela, as well as the Metropolitan Compass and the Citizens' Mailbox.