La Guardia police eviction of MST
La Guardia police eviction of MST 2010: In the Nueva Esperanza neighborhood of La Guardia, a town in the Santa Cruz department of Bolivia, a confrontation was reported between police and members of the Homeless Movement (MST). The incident broke on Friday, April 16th, along kilometer 9 of the highway to the north after security forces attempted to evict MST members from a 72-hectare property. When they refused, a confrontation began with stones, tear gas, beatings, and gunshots. Leaders reported that police and civilians hired by the landowners opened fire against property occupants. The confrontation left one person dead and 23 injured. The deceased was Alberto Balderas (29), who was reported to have passed away due to acute anemia and serious injuries that pierced his lung, stomach, liver, and spleen from a single gunshot by a larger caliber firearm, said forensic doctor Rafael Vargas (Los Tiempos 2010). Leaving behind four orphaned children, his family demanded justice and called for an investigation into the Police Commander, “quien se ha metido a este jueguito de un terrateniente” (for getting involved in this little game of landowner) (Opinión 2010).
It was reported that 14 members of MST were arrested, weapons were seized, and eight police officers were injured (Opinión 2010). Members of MST threatened to take over the nearest police station if the police did not release those arrested during the incidents, but they were eventually released (Opinión 2010).
Police denied responsibility for Balderas’s death and affirmed that no firearms were used. Department Commander of Santa Cruz, Colonel Humberto Echalar, stated “La policía en estos casos y muchos otros están prohibidos de utilizar armas de fuego” (In these cases and many others, the police are prohibited from using firearms) (Agencia de Noticias Fides 2010). Ultimately, the head of the Police Operations Tactical Unit (UTOP), Lt. Colonel Oscar Terceros, along with Corporal Elias Eloy Mamani, were suspended from their duties by the Ministry of Government and the Command for not complying with the rules in the events in La Guardia (eju.tv 2010). The Corporal allegedly fired his weapon during the confrontation over the land and was placed at the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Investigation. Echalar affirmed that police still did not use weapons and stated that the alleged plotters for assault and those responsible for the theft of police equipment would be sued.
On April 28, the mayor of La Guardia, Luis Alfonso Parra Kippez, businessman Mario Gil Parada, and official Marcia Paredes de Zambrana were arrested by the Special Force to Fight Against Crime (FELCC) (Los Tiempos 2010). The Public Ministry began an investigation to clarify the incident. After La Guardia’s prosector, Olvis Egüez heard the trio’s testimonies, he ordered their apprehension in FELCC cells. It was found that the three were likely authors or participants in Balderas’s death and were charged with murder, serious injuries, and criminal association.