BREAKING - President of Bolivia Resigns as Bishops Appeal for Peace and Non-Violence


AMERICA/BOLIVIA - After the resignation of the President, appeal for non-violence and a peaceful constitutional solution
Monday, 11 November 2019
La Paz (Agenzia Fides) - Thousands of people took to the streets a few hours ago in La Paz to celebrate the resignation of Bolivian president Evo Morales, at the end of the protests and disputes over the results of the October 20 elections, with the self-proclaimed victory of the outgoing President (see Fides, 8/11/2019). In the last two days, clashes across the country had become very violent.
The Bolivian Bishops' Conference, the representatives of the community of citizens, the civic committees of the country and CONADE (National Committee for the Defense of Democracy), came together to analyze the unprecedented situation in the country. From this meeting the first conclusions emerged, sent to Fides: "What happens in Bolivia is not a coup d'etat, we say this to the Bolivian citizens and to the entire international community. We launch an appeal for peace to all Bolivians, not to commit acts of vandalism, revenge, or anything we can repent of. We all have a serious obligation to defend the lives of all Bolivians, in the name of God we tell you: stop the acts of violence and preserve life and peace. We ask the national police and the armed forces to urgently fulfill their constitutional role in defending property and people, preserving the life and freedom of all".
"We all agree - the document continues - in proposing a constitutional and peaceful solution to the National Assembly of Bolivia, in order to have a constitutional president in a short time with the task of forming a new electoral court and bring us to new elections so that all people can express their opinion in freedom and peace. May God protects us at this time and inspire us with feelings of peace and fraternity".
The document is signed with the date of 10 November 2019, in La Paz, by the Bolivian Bishops' Conference, by the Community of Citizens, by the Civic Committees, by CONADE.
Yesterday, Sunday 10 November, during the Angelus Pope Francis invited to pray for Bolivia with these words: "I wish to entrust to your prayer the situation in beloved Bolivia, neighbor of my homeland. I invite all Bolivians, in particular, the political and social actors, to wait in peace, with a constructive spirit, and without any previous condition, in an atmosphere of peace and serenity, for the results of the process of revision of the elections, which is currently underway. In peace". (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 11/11/2019)

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