Post by scumbuster on Nov 12, 2019 13:28:07 GMT -5
Bolivia’s Morales Accepts Asylum in Mexico after Resignation
MEXICO CITY – Evo Morales, who resigned the Bolivian presidency on the weekend after more than 13 years in power after the military forced him out, accepted political asylum in Mexico for “humanitarian reasons,” Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard announced on Monday.
“I inform you that a few minutes ago we received a call from President Evo Morales. He responded to our invitation and is verbally and formally requesting asylum in our country.” Ebrard said in a hastily-called and urgent news conference in Mexico City.
Ebrard said that Mexico “has decided to grant asylum” to Morales “for humanitarian reasons and because of the urgent situation in Bolivia where his life is at risk.”
“We will immediately proceed to inform the Bolivian Foreign Ministry, something that we have already done, who under international law ... (is to receive) safe conduct and security, as well as (to give) guarantees that the life, personal integrity and freedom for Mr. Evo Morales will not be placed in danger and he will be able to get himself into a safe place,” he added.
The foreign minister, who did not take any questions from reporters, did not reveal whether Morales is currently in Bolivia or the date on which he will travel to Mexico.
Ebrard said that he had informed the Organization of American States of this decision invoking the “international protection of life, liberty and integrity of Evo Morales,” and he will inform the United Nations and the Mexican Senate of that as well.
“Our tradition has always been for the protection the politically persecuted,” Ebrard emphasized, adding that “the authorization of asylum is a sovereign right of the Mexican state in accord with its regular principles of foreign policy to protect human rights and respect the self-determination of peoples.”
The Bolivian leader’s resignation comes after he announced that a new presidential election will be held and the country’s electoral entity would be completely restructured amid denunciations of irregularities in the Oct. 20 vote by the Organization of American States in which he had been re-elected to a fourth term.
Many had complained that the vote was rigged to ensure he remained in power.
OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro, meanwhile, urged the Bolivian legislature to meet on an “urgent” basis and “ensure” that the country’s institutions continued to operate properly during a transition period leading to the new election.
www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2485641&CategoryId=14919
MEXICO CITY – Evo Morales, who resigned the Bolivian presidency on the weekend after more than 13 years in power after the military forced him out, accepted political asylum in Mexico for “humanitarian reasons,” Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard announced on Monday.
“I inform you that a few minutes ago we received a call from President Evo Morales. He responded to our invitation and is verbally and formally requesting asylum in our country.” Ebrard said in a hastily-called and urgent news conference in Mexico City.
Ebrard said that Mexico “has decided to grant asylum” to Morales “for humanitarian reasons and because of the urgent situation in Bolivia where his life is at risk.”
“We will immediately proceed to inform the Bolivian Foreign Ministry, something that we have already done, who under international law ... (is to receive) safe conduct and security, as well as (to give) guarantees that the life, personal integrity and freedom for Mr. Evo Morales will not be placed in danger and he will be able to get himself into a safe place,” he added.
The foreign minister, who did not take any questions from reporters, did not reveal whether Morales is currently in Bolivia or the date on which he will travel to Mexico.
Ebrard said that he had informed the Organization of American States of this decision invoking the “international protection of life, liberty and integrity of Evo Morales,” and he will inform the United Nations and the Mexican Senate of that as well.
“Our tradition has always been for the protection the politically persecuted,” Ebrard emphasized, adding that “the authorization of asylum is a sovereign right of the Mexican state in accord with its regular principles of foreign policy to protect human rights and respect the self-determination of peoples.”
The Bolivian leader’s resignation comes after he announced that a new presidential election will be held and the country’s electoral entity would be completely restructured amid denunciations of irregularities in the Oct. 20 vote by the Organization of American States in which he had been re-elected to a fourth term.
Many had complained that the vote was rigged to ensure he remained in power.
OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro, meanwhile, urged the Bolivian legislature to meet on an “urgent” basis and “ensure” that the country’s institutions continued to operate properly during a transition period leading to the new election.
www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2485641&CategoryId=14919