Sucre Assassination of MIR Leader
In April 1991, Julio Sibila (Sivila) Aldana, a professor and MIR activist, was brutally beaten by unknown assailants (Informe R 1991). The attack left him hospitalized for months and ultimately led to his death. A suspicious surgical procedure on his vocal cords rendered him unable to speak, raising further questions about the circumstances surrounding his treatment. Sibila died in November 1992 without ever being able to testify about the assault.
Outrage over the case, known as “The Sibila Case,” forced authorities to investigate. However, the Chuquisaca police produced three conflicting reports, all of which failed to convince the public (30 Días. Vol. 3:6-9 1994, 90). Accusations of incompetence, irresponsibility, and even deliberate cover-ups emerged as suspicions grew that high-ranking officials were involved in shielding the perpetrators.
In August 1991, the Constitutional Committee of the Chamber of Deputies released a report citing severe irregularities in the case (30 Días. Vol. 3:6-9 1994, 90). The deputies condemned the actions of the Chuquisaca police and called for charges against Colonels Eddy Villarroel, Rafael Asturizaga, and Lieutenant Arturo Téllez Michel. Despite these recommendations, no charges were filed, and some of the accused were instead appointed to diplomatic posts.
The Committee also criticized Prosecutor Ana María Lía and Judge Walter Aldayuz Durán for wrongfully imprisoning an innocent person, a decision later confirmed by the Superior Court of Chuquisaca (30 Días. Vol. 3:6-9 1994, 90). Additionally, they urged Attorney General Ángel Baldivieso to investigate the doctors who performed the tracheotomy on Sibila, which irreparably damaged his vocal cords.
By 1994, the Chuquisaca District Prosecutor’s Office ordered a new investigation into Sibila’s death, discarding nearly 1,000 pages of prior findings (30 Días. Vol. 3:6-9 1994, 90). This decision reflected the persistent demand for accountability and transparency in Sucre.