Santa Rosa Massacre
BACKGROUND: On Thursday, September 20, 2001 a violent clash between armed militants of el Movimiento Izquierda Revolucionario (MIR) and members of el Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario (MNR), who were blocking the town hall in Santa Rosa de Yacunma, left 3 citizens dead and 18 wounded. Santa Rosa is a town of Beni with roughly 6,000 inhabitants (Fides 2024a). The 3 dead and 4 of the wounded belonged to the Vásquez Mosquiera family, the prominent MNR family in Santa Rosa. The perpetrators were brothers and members of the Balcázar-Gil family, the dominant MIR family (Bolivia.com 2001).
This event, known as the Santa Rosa Massacre, was politically motivated stemming from old conflicts between the two MIR and MNR families and a dispute over the Mayor’s Office of Santa Rosa (Los Tiempos, n.d.). The MIR was Bolivia’s social democratic political party and the MNR was a center-right conservative party. These two parties dominated Bolivian politics for much of the 1980s-2000s (Mayorga 2005). 7 days prior to the massacre, Justo Alvarez Cicilia Rea (MNR), one of the town’s five councilors, questioned Mayor Hugo Yáñez Roca’s (MNR) management of the town. An intended vote of censure to remove Mayor Yáñez Roca was scheduled for the day of the massacre. It was discovered Councilor Alvarez intended to vote in favor of the censure, winning the MIR enough votes to remove the mayor. On the day of massacre, MNR members attempted to block the vote resulting in the ultimate massacre outside of the town hall (Bolivia.com 2001). The murder of Sandra Vásquez, the daughter of Arnulfo Vásquez Casanova, secretary of the MIR, by a MNR militant, two days prior further increased the political and familial tensions in Santa Rosa prior to the massacre.
The existing and growing political tension in Santa Rosa and the desire for revenge following the murder of Sandra served as a catalyst for the violence that followed on Thursday, September 20th.
ACCOUNT: The Death of Sandra Vásquez: On Wednesday, September 18, 2001 Sandra Vásquez (MIR) was with her friends when she was encountered by a drunken Rigoberto Vásquez Mosqueira (MNR). He reportedly shouted, “viva el MNR abajo el MIR,” before shooting Sandra in the head (Los Tiempos, n.d.). Sandra was taken to Hospital Obrero in La Paz were she succumbed to her injuries 10 days later. Sandra’s father, secretary of the MIR, reported the incident to the police. The police failed to arrest Rigoberto claiming reinforcements were needed before they could act (Bolivia.com 2001). The MIR blamed the MNR, and specifically the Vásquez Mosqueira for her death. <<<NOTE: conflicting info on date and time of her death, Tues or Wednesda>>>
The Santa Rosa Massacre: On September 20, 2001 at 9:45am, MNR members armed themselves with makeshift weapons, including stones, iron bars, and sticks, blocking the entrance to the Santa Rosa Town Hall to prevent the vote of censure against Mayor Yáñez (Los Tiempos 2001b). The electoral representative of Beni, Elsia, meant to carry out the vote, was blocked from entering (Bolivia.com 2001).
At 10:30am two cars drove up to the Town Hall carrying brothers Enrique and Roger Balcázar-Gil, MIR militants. Upon stepping out of the vehicle, they opened fire on the crowd indiscriminately (Fides 2024a). The brothers were armed with M2 machine guns, automatic weapons, .38 caliber revolvers, and .9 millimeter pistols (Los Tiempos, n.d.). After opening fire, they began searching for their MNR political enemies. Over 30 shots were fired by the brothers with the majority of the wounded being shot while lying wounded on the ground or attempting to escape (Los Tiempos 2001a).
The first victim was Ernesto Vásquez (MNR). While on the ground injuried, Ernesto Váquez said, “levántate mijita que si quieren disparar que me maten….” Enrique Balcázar-Gil (MIR) in turn responded, “entonces muerete viejo de mierda…” before shooting Ernesto in the head and neck, killing him (Fides 2024a).
The last two victims were brothers Ernesto Vásquez Mosqueira Jr. and Emir Vásquez Mosqueira (MNR). Ernesto Jr. was believed to be shot and killed while on the ground wounded. Emir was killed after being shot in the back while attempting to escape (Los Tiempos 2001b).
The 4 Balcázar-Gil brothers, Enrique, Roger, Edgar, and Edwin left the scene in a car before they fled with their families on a plane. Edwin was head of the MIR Command of Santa Rosa. Mayor Yáñez ordered the survivors to be air evacuated to a hospital in Trinidad (Fides 2024a). <<NOTE: look into think about 2.5 hrs later new mayor was supposed to be sworn in - confusing>>
DEATHS: Sandra Vásquez, daughter to secretary of the MIR Arnulfo Vásquez Casanova, 27 years old. Killed by a bullet to the head shot by Rigoberto Vásquez Mosqueira leaving her in a comma. She was unable to move her extremities or breath on her own. She succumbed to her injuries in Hospital Obrero in La Paz 10 days later (Bolivia.com 2001),(Los Tiempos 2001c).
Ernesto Vásquez, prominent MNR member and father of Ernesto Jr. and Emir, 76 years old. Killed by 4 bullets from a .38 millimeter caliber revolver to the head and neck by Enrique Balcázar-Gil (Bolivia.com 2001),(Fides 2024a).
Ernesto Vásquez Mosqueira Jr., prominent MNR member and son of Ernesto Vásquez, 47 years old. Killed by 3 bullets suspected to have been fired by automatic weapons (Bolivia.com 2001), (Agencia de Noticias Fides 2001).
Emir Vásquez Mosqueira, prominent MNR member and son of Ernesto Vásquez, 35 years old. Killed by 2 bullets to the back suspected to have been fired by automatic weapons (Bolivia.com 2001), (Agencia de Noticias Fides 2001).
INVESTIGATION Following the Santa Rosa Massacre, police were searching for the 4 Balcázar-Gil brothers, Enrique, Roger, Edgar, and Edwin, as well as Primo Versani, Nino Gil, and Rigoberto Vásquez (Fides 2024c). Enrique and Roger Balcázar-Gil were eventually arrested and sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder of the 3 Vásquez Mosqueira victims and the 18 wounded citizens, without right to pardon (Fides 2024b).
On September 27, 2001 the Technical Judicial Police concluded their initial investigation finding the massacre to be premeditated which was later reaffirmed by the Human Rights Commission of the Chamber of Deputies (Fides 2024d), (Los Tiempos 2001b). The judge in charge of the case, Roberto Rejas Rivera was suspended and replaced on October 1, 2001 after the government asked the Judicial Council to investigate his decision to order the provisional release of three accomplices to the massacre. Minister of Justice Mario Serrate reported that there was sufficient evidence for their imprisonment (Fides 2024c).
A commission, made up of 3 parliamentarians of la Brigada de Beni, presidents of las Comisiones de Derechos Humanos, and members of la Comision de Descentralizacion y Participacion, to investigate the cause and events of the massacre was established (Los Tiempos, n.d.). The commission determined the MIR were responsible for the violence that had occurred at the Town Hall (Los Tiempos 2001a).
Throughout the entire investigative and legal process, Minister of Justice Mario Serrate pushed for the massacre to not be labeled as politically motivated, ruling out political crime or an act of revenge for Sandra Váquez, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary (Los Tiempos 2001c).
It is unknown whether Rigoberto Vásquez Mosqueira was arrested or charged for the death of Sandra Vásquez.