Bolivian Government Issues Arrest Warrant for Evo Morales, but Argentina President Won’t Honor It

Dec. 19, 2019 (EIRNS)—Yesterday morning, Bolivia’s Interior Minister Arturo Murillo announced his government had issued an arrest warrant for deposed President Evo Morales, charging him with sedition, terrorism and financing terrorism. They appear intent on giving Morales the Qaddafi treatment.

The arrest warrant, signed by the La Paz prosecutor’s office, orders law enforcement to apprehend Morales, who has been granted refugee status in Argentina, and bring him to La Paz. Murillo claims to have taped phone conversations between Morales and a collaborator, allegedly proving Morales was conspiring to foment violence. These are fake, Morales charged. The Interior Minister has also issued a formal request for Morales to be extradited and has notified Interpol to carry out the arrest.

Last night, Argentine President Alberto Fernández and his Foreign Minister Felipe Solá reviewed the case, and determined they will not allow Morales to be arrested in Argentina and ordered his security increased. While the Foreign Ministry’s legal office is reviewing the arrest warrant, and may possibly issue a formal reply, the Foreign Ministry told the daily Infobae that “Argentina is not obligated to give a legal response to something it considers out of line as it relates to someone who is a political refugee.” Morales will continue to have “diplomatic immunity and protection,” the Ministry said.

Another government official told La Razón that Morales will be protected, “because the whole arrest warrant is a farce.”