Bolivia: police forces detained Evo Morales' main opponent

On Wednesday afternoon at approximately 2:00 p.m. local time, Luis Fernando Camacho, governor of the department of Santa Cruz and one of the main opponents of the Bolivian government, was arrested by police forces and taken to the capital city of La Paz. Hundreds of people took to the streets to demand his release, causing incidents and destruction.

After midday, in a surprise operation, Camacho was arrested a few blocks from his home while returning from business activities. In a video posted on social media by supporters and members of his political party, armed police officers can be seen surrounding his van, which had broken windows. A handcuffed person appears on the ground along with Camcho's lawyer with his arms raised.

Minutes later, the governor was forced into a helicopter and taken by force to La Paz. Members of parliament and supporters of his political party Creemos went to the Viru Viru and El Trompillo airports in unsuccessful attempts to prevent his transfer.

"We denounce before the people of Santa Cruz, before the Bolivian people and before the international community that the Governor of Santa Cruz has been kidnapped, in an absolutely illegal police operation, and taken to an unknown destination," the Autonomous Departmental Government of Santa Cruz published in a statement.

After the arrest, disturbances were reported in different parts of Santa Cruz. For example, the departmental prosecutor's office was set on fire, as well as the residence of the minister of public works, Edgar Montaño. In addition, there were clashes between police officers and supporters who took to the streets to demand the leader's release.

Voices of the prosecutor's fffice and the government

Carlos Eduardo del Castillo del Carpio, minister of government, was the first pro-government figure to comment on what happened. "We inform the Bolivian people that the Bolivian Police complied with the arrest warrant against Mr. Luis Fernando Camacho," he wrote on his Twitter account a few minutes after the arrest.

The Bolivian prosecutor's office released a statement in which it confirmed that Camacho was arrested "in compliance with the arrest warrant issued by the Departmental Prosecutor's Office of La Paz" citing charges called 'Coup d'Etat I,' the same for which former president Jeanine Áñez was arrested. It added that "this is not a kidnapping or political persecution."

The arrested governor of Santa Cruz is the main opponent of the Bolivian government, led by Luis Arce and Evo Morales, both members of the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) Party.