Category Archives: Latin America

La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico: Training of basic education teachers on the culture of peace

. EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

An article by Karina Lizárraga in El Sudcaliforniano (translation by CPNN)

More than 1,500 preschool, primary and secondary school teachers from the five municipalities of Baja California Sur participated via zoom in the seminar called: “Socio-emotional education, child and adolescent participation and the culture of peace in Mexican schools”, according to the general director of basic education of the Ministry of Public Education, Martina Camacho Higuera.

(Click here for the original Spanish version).

Question for this article:

Is there progress towards a culture of peace in Mexico?

Where is peace education taking place?

The official said that this training had the objective of offering pedagogical resources for the development of socio-emotional skills and the participation of students in the culture of peace, an action aimed at promoting the construction of an inclusive and democratic coexistence, for protection from the pandemic, as well as for the return to classrooms once determined by the health authorities.

Camacho Higuera highlighted that this event was offered by the Undersecretary of Basic Education, Marcos Bucio ,and the Directorate of Educational Management of the Federal SEP directed by Marlene Mendoza, who were kind enough to take into account the South Californian teachers in this educational journey.

In this sense, he added that it is the responsibility of authorities, teachers, students, parents and mothers to take actions to build environments of cordiality and harmony that go beyond the classrooms, to develop a culture of peace that impacts on the development of society.

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

Sinaloa, Mexico: III International Congress on women and the culture of peace

. . WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

An article from Debate (translation by CPNN)

After two days of work, the III International Congress “Culture of peace by women: various worldviews; women and men for positive masculinities” was concluded in Culiacán with the participation of prominent specialists in these issues.


Image of the congress participants via Zoom.

(Click here for the original article in Spanish.)

Questions related to this article:

Do women have a special role to play in the peace movement?

Prospects for progress in women’s equality, what are the short and long term prospects?

The event was organized by the Sinaloa State Congress, the Autonomous University of the West and the civil association Building Spaces for Peace as part of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the 16 days of activism.

Some of the topics that were developed on November 27 and 28, were health and social work with pregnant women, victims of family violence, the evaluation of Gender Alerts, Culture of Peace, Human rights of women, bullying and sexual violence.

On the second and last day of activities, the speakers were Leticia Burgos, coordinator of the National Alert Network; Argentina Casanova, representative of the Social and Gender Observatory, and María Luisa Sosa de la Torre, of the National Network for Effective Parity and the National Network of Political Rights Trainers.

Latin America, WOMEN'S EQUALITY

Support communities in Caquetá, Colombia to strengthen peace building processes in the territories

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

An article from Vaki

Since May 2018, Schools of Peace Foundation (Fundación Escuelas de Paz in Spanish), supports rural communities of Curillo and La Montañita, in Caquetá, in the development of actions that strengthen the leading role and active and inclusive citizenship in peace building processes that come from the territories through the Project Knitting Paths of Peace (Proyecto Tejiendo Caminos de Paz in Spanish).

Caquetá is one of the most affected departments of Colombia by violence. The emergence, prolongation and deterioration of the armed conflict has caused numerous human’s rights violations, perpetuated by different groups involved in this armed conflict.

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(Click here for a Spanish version of this article.)

Question related to this article:

What is happening in Colombia, Is peace possible?

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This situation has created a complex humanitarian crisis that affects rural, indigenous, mestizo and African-Colombian communities, these are the consequences of transculturation related to drug dealing, social consciousness of war, patriarchal culture, gender based violence, displacement, the growth of informal settlements, poverty and precarious conditions of the health system.

Nonetheless, the inhabitants of these territories, with great resilience, come together hoping to create peace building alternatives by collective initiatives, looking to generate education, opportunities, solidarity-based economy and a peaceful transformation of conflicts. In this task, it is important to highlight women leadership in their organizational, communicative and active processes.

The COVID-19 pandemic crisis has delayed organizational, formative and communicative processes of the project, which can lead to its decline for its lack of continuity.

Right now, in order to move forward with the last phase of the project, we need resources from the national and international civic society.

We need your support so that the communities can implement the advances of the formative process and the political incidence that they already began, so with this, they can develop collective initiatives and communicative strategies which will rebuild the social fabric and the nonviolent mobilization.

Be a part of the change and join us with your donation!

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, Latin America

FAO : Strong support for innovation and digital technologies in Latin America and the Caribbean

. . SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT . .

An article from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization

The 36th Session of FAO’s Regional Conference for  Latin America and the Caribbean  ended today with FAO Members in the region agreeing to join efforts to fight COVID-19 and promote sustainable agri-food systems through innovation, digital technologies, partnerships and enhanced data, particularly to strengthen food value chains and support smallholders farmers and the most vulnerable communities.


FAO Director-General QU Dongyu and Edward Centeno Gadea, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Nicaragua and Conference Chair

During the three-day virtual meeting (19 – 21 October) hosted by the Government of Nicaragua, all 33 Members, as well as representatives from civil society and the private sector, highlighted the importance of developing and applying innovative approaches to overcome the challenges facing food and agriculture in the region, particularly in relation to scaling up the use of digital tools.

“We need innovation, science and digital technologies to reach the Sustainable Development Goals,” said FAO’s Director-General, QU Dongyu, during the event, stressing that innovation and digital technologies “are the only way out for us to go forward.”

Several Latin American and Caribbean countries stressed that policies and programmes to promote digital solutions should mainly target small and medium-sized family farmers and poor and vulnerable rural communities, bridging the gaps in the rural population and leveraging their potential for inclusive and sustainable development. The International Platform for Digital Food and Agriculture, whose development has been led by FAO, was mentioned as an important tool for the exchange of experience and coordination among countries.

The Director-General noted that digital technology also contributed to make the Regional Conference a tremendous success in terms of attendance. The level of participation was unprecedented. The event was attended by one Prime Minister, three Ministers of Foreign Affairs, 50 ministers and 40 vice-ministers, and 346 other government officials, as well as 103 Observers from a wide diversity of sectors and organizations. Furthermore, close to 30,000people are estimated to have followed the Conference through digital platforms.

“The Digital FAO is more transparent, more open to dialogue, more inclusive, and, above all, more responsive to the needs and priorities of its Members,” Qu said.

Enhanced partnerships and data

The Regional Conference affirmed that in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is fundamental to strengthen partnerships, multilateralism and international solidarity. In this sense, countries welcomed FAO’s comprehensive COVID-19 Response and Recovery Programme and requested support from the UN agency for the design, implementation and assessment of public policies and programmes. These, they noted, should focus  on job creation, social and productive inclusion, healthy food for the whole population, school feeding, access to water for production and consumption and increasing productivity.

“The FAO COVID-19 Response and Recovery Programme is now in motion. We must work together to minimize the impact that the pandemic will have on our food systems, livelihoods and health,” the Director-General said.

(The article is continued on the right side of this page)

(Click here for a Spanish version of this article.)

Question for this article:

What is the relation between movements for food sovereignty and the global movement for a culture of peace?

(This article is continued from the left side of the page)

The importance of data collection and analysis for the development of a new generation of public policies and programmes was also highlighted by countries, as well as agreements and alliances between the public, private, scientific, academic and civil society sectors, to promote governance of food systems that enable healthy diets and sustainable food systems.

In this context, countries supported the Hand-in-Hand Initiative to promote effective cooperation mechanisms between recipient and donor countries, as well as to mobilize resources from financial institutions and the private sector, particularly to reduce the development gaps that affect lagging rural territories in the region. The initiative is equipped with state-of-the-art tools – the Hand in Hand Geospatial Platform and the Data Lab for Statistical Innovation – to support countries and other stakeholders with data collection and analysis for decision-making and impact assessment.

Transforming food systems towards better nutrition in the region 

The Regional Conference held a special event organised by the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) to discuss ways to transform food systems and ensure healthy diets for all, entitled “Driving Transformation Toward Sustainable Food Systems and Healthy Diets.”

The region of Latin America and the Caribbean is undergoing a rapid nutritional transition. Since 2014, hunger has grown again by 13 million people, and the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to lead to an increase in the incidence of hunger. Today, almost 48 million people suffer from hunger in the region. At the same time, obesity levels are also on the rise affecting around 25 percent of the population.

“We need to join all our efforts and work together, now more than ever before”, said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu opening the special event. “Because, we are not on track to eradicating hunger, food insecurity and all forms of malnutrition by 2030. And because the COVID-19 pandemic comes at a time when food insecurity was already increasing in the region”.

He noted that the pandemic and the related containment measures are especially damaging for Small Island Developing States, which heavily depend on food imports, and called on the countries in the region to step up efforts to make their food systems more efficient, healthy and sustainable, stressing that agri-food systems transformation should be country-owned and country-led.

For his part, the CFS Chairperson and Permanent Representative of Thailand to the Rome-based Agencies, Thanawat Tiensin, noted that the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition are currently under negotiation by all CFS members and are expected to be adopted at the next CFS Plenary session in February 2021. He urged all stakeholders including governments, parliamentarians, private sector and civil society to improve cross-sectoral policy coordination and join efforts to turn policies into action.

During the event, the FAO Director-General and the CFS Chairperson were joined by Senator Jorge Pizarro of Chile, President of the Parliament of Latin America and the Caribbean (PARLATINO); Marisa Macari, El Poder del Consumidor, Mexico, Representative of the CFS Civil Society Mechanism; and Maria Nelly Rivas, Cargill, Representative of the CFS Private Sector Mechanism, as well as regional policy-makers and experts. 

The CFS was established in 1974, hosted by FAO, as an intergovernmental body to serve as a forum in the United Nations System for review and follow-up of policies concerning world food security. It is considered the most inclusive platform in the UN System.

In his closing remarks to the Regional Conference, the Chairperson and Minister for Agriculture and Livestock of Nicaragua, Edward Centeno Gadea, highlighted the importance of FAO’s work to support rural families, particularly the most vulnerable ones, and affirmed that “fighting against poverty is an act of peace.”

More information about the Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean can be found here.

Latin America, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Toluca, Mexico, establishes more than 150 Peace Centers

.. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION ..

An article from Diario Portal (translation by CPNN)

The municipal government of Toluca continues with firm steps towards its goal of building a more just society and with a culture of peace, in which the general well-being is promoted and violence is prevented. An example of this are the more than 150 Centers of Peace that it has established up to now.

Formed under the Municipal Plan for the Promotion of Peace, Development and the Environment at the initiative of Mayor Juan Rodolfo Sánchez Gómez, this project was implemented with trained people, called Agents of Peace and Development, who can meet the needs of each space promoting peace

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(Click here for the Spanish original of this article)

Questions for this article:

How can culture of peace be developed at the municipal level?

Is there progress towards a culture of peace in Mexico?

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During the contingency due to COVID-19, municipal personnel have worked hard, with the necessary sanitary measures, and constituted 113 Peace Centers, 35 of them in schools including the “Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez” Elementary School in the evening shift, the Executive University of State of Mexico, the Paulo Freire School and the “David Paul Ausubel SC” Educational Institute, to name a few.

Likewise, eight children’s creches have joined including Carmen Rodríguez, Julieta Lechuga de Pichardo and Carmen Maza de Del Mazo; 12 delegations such as San Cristóbal Huichochitlán, Sánchez, Santa Cruz Atzcatpotzaltongo, San Felipe Tlalmimilolpan and La Maquinita; three churches such as the parish “San Pablo Apóstol” in San Pablo Autopan and the Capilla del Salvador in San Cristóbal Huichochitlán; 11 health centers, six clinics, six companies such as Manufactureras Qualy, three markets and the 26 libraries of Toluca.

These institutions are in addition to the Peace Centers established before the pandemic, 40 in total: 26 schools, five delegations, two churches and seven companies.

As part of the program, specialized municipal staff in the respective institution elaborate a diagnosis and the factors they wish to influence, to later establish a specific program designed to meet the needs of the population in each environment, in order to increase the factors to protect peace and to reduce risk factors.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Latin America

Five new digital media platforms for uncensored news from Colombia

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An article from Advox Global Voices (published under a Creative Commons Attribution-Only license (CC BY))

Colombia is one of the world’s most dangerous countries  for journalists and broadcasters.  Threats and harassment  by those involved in drug trafficking and armed groups are commonplace, and journalists frequently self-censor in order to avoid reprisals.


Photo by Ahdieh Ashrai/Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

In addition, Colombian mainstream media’s close links to business empires and politicians undermine editorial independence, according to Reporters Without Borders. Most media outlets in Colombia are owned by only three conglomerates.

Recently, new media outlets have sprung up, challenging the traditional media monopolies. Below is a list of five independent digital media platforms in Colombia to follow.

Los Danieles, launched in April 2020

Every Sunday, three well-known journalists in Colombia, all of them named Daniel, read their columns live on social media. Their posts have become very popular: One recent video, which features the journalists Jorge Ramos and Enrique Santos Calderón  as guests, received over 65,000 views on YouTube. From November, the award-winning journalist Santos Calderón will officially remain as the fourth columnist of Los Danieles, which means “the Daniels.”

Los Danieles began after Daniel Coronell was fired in April 2020 from the Colombian magazine Semana for writing about the publication’s shareholders. On his last column  at Semana, he wrote: “Semana’s shareholders own the brand, its magnificent office building, the equipment, the furniture and fixtures, but not the information. The information is public property and can only be used for the benefit of the citizens, not for corporate retaliation.”

Coronell’s dismissal, which he announced on Twitter, sparked outrage on social media. He also gained the support of one of his colleagues, the writer and YouTuber Daniel Samper Ospina, who handed in his resignation to Semana out of solidarity with Coronell. Together they decided to set up an independent, virtual media platform and were later joined by the journalist and writer, Daniel Samper Piza.

The three Daniels named their column “Columnas sin techo” (“columns with no ceilings”), for having developed this project without sponsorships or assistance from any traditional media outlet. They say on their live broadcasts that their “techo” (roof) is made up of their following and readership, which have been increasing significantly.

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Question related to this article:

What is happening in Colombia, Is peace possible?

Journalism in Latin America: Is it turning towards a culture of peace?

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La Nueva Prensa, launched in March 2018

La Nueva Prensa, or “the new press,” whose motto is “la verdad sea dicha” (“truth be told”), is a news site created by Gonzalo Guillén.

The site has been very critical of the former right-wing president Álvaro Uribe Vélez, as well as President Ivan Duque’s government. La Nueva Prensa is supported by crowdfunding and donations by organizations.

This year, Guillén and other Nueva Prensa colleagues received death threats after reporting on the murdered drug trafficker Ñeñe Hernández, who was allegedly involved in a vote-buying scheme  in favor of President Duque at the latest elections.

Vorágine, launched in June 2020

Vorágine’s  slogan is “Periodismo Contracorriente” (“counter-current journalism”). The main aim of this new investigative journalism portal  is to highlight Colombia’s human rights violations. It was created by the journalists José Guarnizo, formerly an editor at Semana magazine, María José Jaramillo, Juan Sebastián López (Morphart), Angélica Penagos (Angie Pik), Laila Abu Shihab, Juan Pablo Barrientos, and Pacho Escobar.

Escobar stressed  that the objective of the new site, which was launched in the midst of the pandemic on June 1, is “to not do business with the state, not because that would be bad, but in order to stay independent.” The site is funded by the sale of tickets for workshops  and donations from readers.

Notiparaco, launched in December 2019

Notiparaco  is run by Levy Rincón, who invites a wide range of well-known personalities on to his live shows for open, uncensored debates on current affairs. Levy Rincón has received numerous threats but continues to conduct interviews and to speak out on social media against what he calls the dictatorship of the party led by the former president, Álvaro Uribe Vélez. Rolling Stone magazine described Levy as “one of the online personalities who speaks from the fringes without fear of those in power.”

The following video features an interview with the Colombian lawyer and activist Miguel Angel del Río, who also refers to the growing power of alternative media sources. Furthermore, del Río stresses the importance and potential of these new forms of media, as they are distinct and independent from the traditional media, which is influenced by the government. He calls for people to be critical and “to put everything under the microscope” in order to create a new model of society.

video : NOTIPARACO | Medida de aseguramiento para el Matarife ¡Por fin!

Tercer Canal, launched in March 2020

Tercer Canal’s slogan is “everything remains to be seen.” This YouTube channel features critical analyses of current affairs from a progressive perspective. It was co-founded  in March 2020 by Hollan Morris, a journalist and former candidate for Mayor of Bogotá who returned from self-exile in 2012, having left Colombia due to death threats. On his channel, he aims to “promote and value the 1991 Constitution of Colombia, a culture of peace that respects the environment and the defense of human rights.”

Through the use of a song, the following video draws attention to the Minga Indígena, a movement formed by indigenous peoples from across Colombia, in particular from the department of Cauca. At the end of October, the group traveled to the capital Bogotá with the aim of meeting President Duque, who chose not to receive them. The group demands the state puts a stop to the massacres of their communities and murders of their leaders.

Video : Vivimos juntos la travesía #LaMinga caminando la palabra.

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, Latin America

Colima, Mexico: Virtual Forum “University Fostering a Culture of Peace”

. EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

An article from AF medios

The University Family Development Center (Cedefu) of the University of Colima, through the University Program for Culture for Peace, held the virtual forum “University Students Fostering a Culture of Peace”, with the aim of generating a space for dialogue and exchange of ideas regarding the construction of a culture of peace.

With the emphasis on the concept of “peacebuilding agents and strategies that promote a culture of peace”, the participating university students interacted by sharing their experience in this university program.

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(Click here for the original Spanish version).

Question for this article:

Is there progress towards a culture of peace in Mexico?

Where is peace education taking place?

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In her speech, Alicia López de Hernández, general director of Cedefu, spoke about the importance of the participation of university teachers in this matter. “Students provide an example for the construction of peace. It is the students themselves who have a great challenge in this pandemic, which requires us to be at home without seeing our colleagues and teachers. Therefore, from Cedefu we unite our wills to carry out this challenge based on non-violence, self-esteem and attitude, which is what identifies university students ”.

The participating students agreed that when they speak of peace, the themes that stand out are tranquility, respect, tolerance and equality.

Present at the activity were the director of Human and Social Development of Cedefu, David Silva Martínez; the professor of the Baccalaureate 4 of the University of Colima, Octavio Juanarena Ventura, who produced the monologues Visions for peace, as well as the head of the University Program for the Culture of Peace, Fabiola Soto Estrada.

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

Comment by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on the Colombian Comprehensive System of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non-Repetition

… . HUMAN RIGHTS … .

A press release from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

“Transitional justice processes are among the most powerful instruments to overcome conflict and break with cycles of violence and impunity. This is why my Office fully supports the Colombian Comprehensive System of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non-Repetition, which is the cornerstone of the historic Peace Agreement signed in 2016 between the Government – on behalf of the Colombian State – and the FARC-EP to put an end to more than 50 years of armed conflict.


Michelle Bachelet

 

Question related to this article:

Truth Commissions, Do they improve human rights?

What is happening in Colombia, Is peace possible?

Today I met with the Truth Commission, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace and the Search Unit for Persons deemed as Missing, the three mechanisms that together form the Colombian transitional justice system. I would like to acknowledge the significant achievements of these institutions, as well as the courage of all those who continue to work for the truth to be known. They are fulfilling a fundamental and unique role in ensuring victims’ participation and the realization of their rights to truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-repetition.

Their contribution to the consolidation of peace in Colombia is essential. I urge the State authorities to unconditionally support and cooperate with the transitional justice system, and to guarantee the full independence of its mechanisms, including financial autonomy and the ability to operate in a safe and secure environment.

Truth and accountability for the crimes committed are crucial to restore the dignity of victims and to lead to reconciliation, for the benefit of the whole of Colombian society.”

(Click here for the Spanish version of this article.)

HUMAN RIGHTS, Latin America, United Nations,

Quintana Roo, Mexico: Judicial Power for Culture of Peace

. EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

An article by Christian Trejo in Diario de Quintana Roo

SOLIDARIDAD, October 19.- The Judicial Power of Quintana Roo, through the Center for Alternative Justice and the Private Certification and Mediation Unit, is conducting, in coordination with the Judicial School, the training program “Training of Trainers in culture of Peace in the classroom and community ”.

The Directorate of the Family Strengthening Center, of the State DIF, promotes these courses —which are based on activities through games— to build a culture of peace, through conflict negotiation and resolution.

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Question for this article:

Is there progress towards a culture of peace in Mexico?

Where is peace education taking place?

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This training provided by the Judicial Power of Quintana Roo, is aimed at public servants of the different dependencies and institutions such as the State Center for Social Crime Prevention and Citizen Participation, the Secretariat of Social Development, Institute for the Development of the Maya People and the Technical Secretariat of the Social Development Hub.

This program, which began on October 5th, will conclude on October 30 with a theme and modules related to “Presentation and Generalities”, “Basic strategies for improving Coexistence and Conflict Resolution”, “Conflicts and their educational potentialities ”,“ Conflict resolution and education in values ​​”,“ Activities in the Classroom for Trainers ”.

Other topics include “Mediation between peers at School and Community”, the “Basic Concepts”, “On the Tools Used in the Peaceful Resolution of Conflicts” and “On the Phases and Stages of the Hearings.”

(Click here for the original Spanish version of this article.)

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

‘Democracy Has Won’: Year After Right-Wing Coup Against Evo Morales, Socialist Luis Arce Declares Victory in Bolivia Election

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION .

An article by Jake Johnson from Common Dreams (licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License)

A year after former Bolivian president Evo Morales was ousted in a military coup that installed a brutal far-right regime, Morales ally Luis Arce declared victory in the South American nation’s high-stakes presidential election early Monday after exit polls showed the socialist candidate with a large advantage over his two main competitors.


Bolivia’s leftist presidential candidate Luis Arce of the Movement for Socialism party celebrates with running mate David Choquehuanca early on October 19, 2020 in La Paz, Bolivia. (Photo: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images)

“Democracy has won,” Arce, who served as Morales’ finance minister, said in an address to the nation after one exit poll showed him leading the race with 52.4% of the vote and former president Carlos Mesa in a distant second with 31.5%. Right-wing candidate Luis Camacho—an ally of unelected interim President Jeanine Añez—won just 14.1% of the vote, according to the survey.

The Washington Post reported that “if the exit poll numbers are confirmed by the official count, which was being tabulated slowly late Sunday, it would be more than enough to avoid a November runoff and claim outright victory.”

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Question related to this article:

Why was Morales ousted from Bolivia by a coup d’etat?

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Arce characterized his apparently decisive victory, which even Añez was forced to acknowledge, as a mandate to continue the policies of the Morales government, which lifted millions of Bolivians out of poverty and expanded the nation’s economy.

“I think the Bolivian people want to retake the path we were on,” Arce said Monday.

Twice postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Sunday’s election was a do-over of last year’s presidential contest, which was thrown into chaos after the U.S.-dominated Organization of American States (OAS) leveled baseless allegations of “fraud” by Morales, who was eventually forced to resign and flee the country under threat by Bolivia’s military.

The coup against Morales sparked a wave of Indigenous-led protests that were violently repressed by the Bolivian military and police forces, which were granted sweeping immunity from prosecution by the anti-Indigenous Añez government.

“The OAS allegations were indeed the main political foundation of the coup that followed the October 20 election three weeks later,” Mark Weisbrot, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, wrote last month. “But they provided no evidence to support these allegations—because there wasn’t any. This has since been established repeatedly by a slew of expert statistical studies.”

From exile in Argentina, Morales on Monday celebrated Arce’s apparent victory as a “great triumph of the people.”

“Brothers and sisters: the will of the people has been asserted,” Morales tweeted. “This is an overwhelming victory… We are going to give dignity and liberty back to the people.”

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, Latin America