{"id":1948599,"date":"2025-06-15T00:25:16","date_gmt":"2025-06-14T22:25:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pre.efe.com\/?p=1948599"},"modified":"2025-06-16T17:36:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T15:36:23","slug":"bolivia-fallen-officers-deadly-roadblock-morales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pre.efe.com\/en\/latest-news\/2025-06-15\/bolivia-fallen-officers-deadly-roadblock-morales\/","title":{"rendered":"Bolivia honors fallen officers amid deadly roadblock clashes linked to Morales supporters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

La Paz, (EFE).- The Bolivian police force paid final tributes on Saturday to officers killed during roadblock protests led by supporters of former Bolivian President Evo Morales (2006-2019), vowing to identify and bring those responsible to justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will spare no effort to identify, arrest, and present to the authorities those cowards who took the lives of our comrades,\u201d said National Police Commander Augusto Russo during a memorial ceremony at the National Police Academy (Anapol) in La Paz. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russo described the perpetrators as \u201ccowards and murderers,\u201d asserting that the institution has the necessary resources to locate those behind officers\u2019 deaths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honor ceremony for officers killed in unrest<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The tribute honored Second Lieutenant Christian Calle, 22, and firefighter Sergeant Jes\u00fas Mamani, both of whom received posthumous promotions.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The ceremony began with a mass beside their caskets, followed by a formal act of recognition where police leaders presented medals, service caps, and the national flag to grieving family members. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the tribute concluded, younger officers formed a corridor and waved white handkerchiefs in farewell as the funeral procession departed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The previous day, officers Carlos Apata and Brayan Barroso were buried. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All four officers died during violent confrontations between security forces and protesters loyal to Morales in various regions of Bolivia. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Three officers were killed on Wednesday while trying to reach the town of Llallagua, where demonstrators had attacked residents attempting to clear blocked roads. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A fourth officer died in Cochabamba after reportedly being detained by protesters who allegedly detonated an explosive device attached to his body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roadblocks persist as political tensions rise<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The protests involve widespread blockades of key routes connecting Bolivia\u2019s western and eastern regions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Demonstrators are demanding action on economic issues, including fuel and currency shortages and rising inflation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Bolivian President Luis Arce\u2019s government claims the real objective of the protests is to pressure him to resign and force through the \u201cunconstitutional\u201d presidential candidacy of Evo Morales. <\/p>\n\n\n

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According to authorities, several highways have been cleared following coordinated interventions by police and the military after nearly two weeks of unrest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, key blockades remain in the central department of Cochabamba, a stronghold of Morales and his union allies, through which many critical transport routes pass. <\/p>\n\n\n\n