Evo: USA Shields ex Prez from Genocide

La Paz
Oct 16

Bolivian President Evo Morales criticized the US government on Monday for protecting ex President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, who is accused in Bolivia of genocide and corruption.

Recalling the fatal victims of the massacre in October 2003, and the social rebellion that forced the ex president to resign, Morales said that the best thing the Bush administration could do was expel this criminal being harbored in the northern country.

"If the United States really defends democracy and human rights, they should contribute to notify and extradite Sanchez de Lozada," he said.

Morales has promoted an international campaign to achieve extradition of the ex president and bring him to trial.

Presenting the strategy before the UN General Assembly, the president asserted that the US aministration is sheltering Sanchez de Lozada, although that country s legislation forbids hiding people guilty of genocidal acts.

The trial against Sanchez de Lozada and several of his ex ministers has been suspended, due to lack of collaboration by the US government in notifying those wanted for trial, who are hidden in its territory, he said.