Bolivia Death Toll Continues To Rise Amidst Protest

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. Nov. 19, 2019: The death toll in Bolivia continues to rise with the latest count putting the number at 23.

The news comes as the United Nations is urging the interim government of  to begin talks on resolving the crisis that saw more protests out in the streets Monday amid a midnight deadlines for Anez to step down.

Anez’s office meanwhile said it was forced to suspend a trip out of the capital La Paz planned for Monday after a threat on her life by a “criminal group.”

Former President Evo Morales, who stepped down last week amid violent protests and accusations of vote-rigging in an Oct. 20 presidential election, fled to Mexico. His supporters have since taken to the streets, sometimes armed with homemade weapons, barricading roads and skirmishing with security forces.

Bolivia’s influential Catholic Church called on Monday for a “national dialogue” to end more than a month of violent protests even as Anez promised elections “very soon.”

Michelle Bachelet, the UN rights chief, said while earlier deaths mostly resulted from clashes between rival protestors, the latest incidents appear to be due to the disproportionate use of force by the army and police.

With the country divided, she fears the situation could worsen.