BOLIVIA: Former Vice President Victor Hugo Cardenas says his house was attacked by government supporters

Record ID: 353171

  • Title: BOLIVIA: Former Vice President Victor Hugo Cardenas says his house was attacked by government supporters
  • Date: 9th March 2009
  • Summary: COMUNIDAD SANCKAJAWIRA, BOLIVIA (MARCH 07, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF COUNTRYSIDE WHERE EX-VICE PRESIDENT, MORALES OPPONENT AND LIKELY CANDIDATE IN THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, VICTOR HUGO CARDENAS, LIVES VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS GENERAL VIEW OF ROAD THAT BORDERS THE LAKE WITH RESIDENTS INFRONT OF THE CARDENAS HOUSE SMOKE COMING OUT OF CARDENAS HOUSE AND RESIDENTS NEARBY VA
  • Embargoed: 24th March 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAAWGPH68RAK7EQ7BHQOHL3QHMI
  • Story Text: A former Bolivian vice president and government opponent says his home near Lake Titicaca was attacked by a crowd of government supporters while his wife and children were inside. Government denies any knowledge of the incident.
    A former Bolivian vice president and known opponent of President Evo Morales said on Saturday (March 7) that his home had been attacked by a group of government supporters.
    Victor Hugo Cardenas served as Vice President in the first administration of Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, from 1993-1997.
    He told reporters that hundreds of Morales followers had attempted to occupy a home he owns near Lake Titicaca and threatened to burn it. Smoke could be seen coming from the entrance of the home as the group burned mattresses outside it.
    His wife, children and other relatives were inside at the time, Cardenas said.
    He added that police did not respond to his calls when he informed them that a crowd was gathering near his home and witnesses said the police did not show up for nearly four hours.
    However, a spokesman from the Ministry of the Interior said that police were in fact heading to his home to control the situation. Still, there have not yet been reports of any arrests.
    Cardenas said he believes the government was behind the incident.

    "The current government, in an act of vengeance and political repression, for my having led the campaign for "no" in the constitutional referendum, through activists of MAS, assaulted my home, burned the lower floor, intending to burn those living in my house - my spouse, my two children, two nephews, my sister-in-law and other relatives," he said.
    But later that day, Morales said he had no knowledge of the disturbance.
    Cardenas has been a recent outspoken opponent of constitutional reforms proposed by Morales, which easily passed in a national referendum in January.
    He has also indicated he may run for president in a December election.
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