Bolivia’s Foreign Minister condemn assassination and torture of ethnic minorities in Sri Lanka

Bolivia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr Rogelio Mayta has condemned the deterioration of human rights globally noting that “members of ethnic minorities have been assassinated and tortured in West Sahara and Sri Lanka”.

In the past Bolivia has avoided voting for a UN resolution in Sri Lanka, being present for both the resolution 30/1 and resolution 34/1 in 2015 and 2017 respectively but failing to vote in the affirmative. In 2009, following the brutal massacres in Mullivaikkal and military campaign which saw the deaths of an estimated 70,000 Tamils civilians, Bolivia voted for a UN resolution that applauded the governments “conclusion of hostilities” and the supposed liberation of Tamil civilians.

In his statement, Mayta’s statement he addressed the upheaval Bolivia faced in 2019 with the military coup noting police and military crackdowns, paramilitary violence, political persecution and the resurgence of white supremacy. The newly appointed government he is a part of took office in October 2020 through free and fair elections. During his speech, he criticised coups directed by the global north.

In his speech, he further highlighted steps his government has taken towards national reconciliation.

“Given our experience, we understand that in order to look forwards we have to fight to ensure there is accountability for the abuses committed in the past”.

He maintained that this was both a national and international responsibility for all countries. We have defined “our country as a plurinational state”, he further added.

Mayta also spoke out against anti-Muslim bigotry in France, the denial of the COVID vaccines to Palestinians, and discriminatory immigration policies adopted in the US.

“Racist nationalism is the greatest threat to democracy and human rights in the world today”, he maintained”.

Mayta further called for universal vaccination warning against monopolisation as well as calling for debt relief for developing countries.

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