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Five months into her detention, the case of ex-president Jeanine Áñez has taken a dark turn this week. Áñez's family and lawyer report she attempted self-harm just days after a damning international report linked her administration to massacres of 20 civilians.Permalink On twitter.com
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Áñez was arrested in March as part of an investigation into the legality of her assuming power in November 2019. woborders.blog/2021/03/18/anez-arrested/Permalink On twitter.com
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This prosecution has remained open-ended and has not led to a concrete indictment, but this past week's report by the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts raised the prospect of a more tangible indictment.Permalink On twitter.com
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The #GIEIBolivia report was devastating on Sacaba (@CarwilBJ/1427830217863745538) and Senkata massacres, dismantling the Áñez government cover story.Permalink On twitter.com
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The report raises the prospect of a 20-count indictment for homicide. (The crime of "genocide" in Bolivia covers such massacres, even w/o racial motives, which are also raised.) Early signs of brewing prosecution: @CarwilBJ/1428875601079934981Permalink On twitter.com
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Meanwhile, Áñez's state of mind and potentially fragile health have been a matter of concern ever since her indefinite detention began.Permalink On twitter.com
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Within days, Áñez positioned herself as a political prisoner, wrote that "I do not trust the government's doctors. They are part of a system of abuse and repression…" erbol.com.bo/nacional/a%C3%B1ez-desde-la-c%C3%A1rcel-%E2%80%98si-llegan-matarme-pido-al-pueblo-que-vele-por-la-seguridad-de-misPermalink On twitter.com
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In other terms, since the beginning of her detention, the alleged risk to her life has been part of public discussion. Her health scares have been international news: cnnespanol.cnn.com/2021/04/20/jeanine-anez-salud-descompensacion-carcel-demoras-permisos-medicos-orix/Permalink On twitter.com
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A judge denied her petition for house arrest in July, deeming her medical condition "not severe" and her flight risk real. dw.com/es/bolivia-juez-niega-a-jeanine-%C3%A1%C3%B1ez-cambiar-casa-por-c%C3%A1rcel/a-58183699Permalink On twitter.com
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Which bring us to last night, when she cut her own arms in what her lawyers termed "a suicide attempt [and] a cry for help." Áñez's daughter: "My mother almost did it."Permalink On twitter.com
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Further comment from her daughter Carolina Ribera Áñez. eldeber.com.bo/pais/hija-de-jeanine-anez-mi-madre-casi-lo-logra-le-han-hecho-varios-puntos_244078Permalink On twitter.com
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The Bolivian government, via Government Minister Eduardo del Castillo, has described medical and psychological treatment provided to Áñez. @LaRazon_Bolivia/1429231841777750020Permalink On twitter.com
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Bolivian government message: "The conditions of Ms. Jeanine Áñez's detention do not present any danger to her health. She has medical personnel at her disposition." Her daughter is inside the prison with her.Permalink On twitter.com
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Min Gob Eduardo del Castillo: "I regret to inform the Bolivian people that Ms. Jeanine Áñez has attempted to injure herself overnight. Nevertheless, we declare that her health is completely stable." la-razon.com/nacional/2021/08/21/el-comandante-de-la-policia-cree-que-anez-solo-busca-generar-repercusion-mediatica/Permalink On twitter.com
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My own view: the spectre of frail government leaders, suffering as they face indictment for crimes against humanity, is both stirring and intrinsic to the whole idea of carceral punishment.Permalink On twitter.com
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Bolivia might be better served by secure out-of-jail detention of Áñez, if the flight risks can be avoided. Her pathos and suffering seem genuine, and are also distracting us from that of two dozen murdered by her security forces.Permalink On twitter.com
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Investigations, reports, and trials advance the cause of accountability in a way that pre-trial detention simply does not.Permalink On twitter.com
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I urge the international press who might be covering this story to: (1) read the GIEI report; (2) center the voices and stories of families who survived the Senkata and Sacaba massacres; (3) cover the prolonged detention of political opponents under all recent Bolivian govtsPermalink On twitter.com
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and (4) draw attention to the grave abuse and mistreatment of prisoners and detainees under the Áñez government, well documented by the #GIEIBolivia and ITEI reports.On twitter.com