President Evo Morales is hoping to be re-elected to a fourth term in office, despite this blatantly
contradicting the Constitution. As reported by Agencia Efe on 4 October 2017 government and opposition parties have taken the issue to the Organization of American States (OAS) and its human rights section, the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR). Meanwhile, Infobae reported on 11 October 2017 that thousands took to the streets in
protest against the president"s unconstitutional intentions.
In a separate but not unrelated development, Pagina Siete reported on 26 October 2017 how children from a foster home had been
used for political ends. Photos of children under the age of seven were published with their left-hand fists raised, symbolizing support for the president and the ruling party, Movement Toward Socialism (MAS).
Rossana Ramirez, persecution analyst at World Watch Research, gives some background information: "It all began when the ruling party, MAS, called on the Constitutional Court of Bolivia to declare all articles preventing Morales from seeking re-election as inapplicable or illegal. It is worth noting that, already in February 2016, a public referendum had voted against such a move. Such attempts by the current president to stay in power are a clear violation of the democratic state and the rule of law, and the main reason for
confrontation with the Roman Catholic Church, as a report by Pagina Siete on 29 October 2017 shows."
Rosanna Ramirez adds: "On the other hand, government officials at all levels appear to be involved in this unconstitutional process, including those responsible for childcare. Young children are being indoctrinated with socialist ideology with the aim of keeping socialism rooted in society. This serves to perpetuate not only socialist government values (as is also the case in Cuba and Venezuela), but also the virtual deification of "˜Evo" as the national figurehead. This opens up the possibility of his policies then being followed blindly, for instance in his encouragement of "˜
indigenismo", which contains anti-Christian elements."
