Bolivia: Police call for reports against those forcing participation in protests
The Bolivian Police have made an urgent call to the public to report leaders who force people to participate in marches and road blockades. According to authorities, some social leaders are using threats to pressure their bases and ensure their attendance at political mobilizations.
Authorities explained that they have received information about groups demanding citizen participation under the warning of economic fines or physical punishment. The police emphasized that the right to protest must always be free and voluntary, and that no person should be forced to act against their will for private interests.
To facilitate these reports, the police institution has made secure and confidential communication channels available. They ensure that the identity of people who decide to report these abuses will be rigorously protected to avoid possible reprisals by the reported leaders.
The objective of this initiative is to guarantee the safety and freedom of movement of all Bolivian citizens. The police seek to prevent mobilizations from becoming spaces of coercion where the fundamental rights of workers and peasants are violated.
Finally, the security forces reminded that threats and coercion are crimes that must be investigated and punished by justice. They ask the population not to be afraid and to collaborate with the authorities to maintain public order and respect for individual rights throughout the national territory.