Bolivia’s Ex-President Targeted in US Federal Lawsuit for 2003 Civilian Death at Protest
The former President and Defense Minister of Bolivia, residing in US now, have been accused in the federal law court for charges of being responsible for the death of 67 civilians at protests in 2003. The group of the Bolivians, suing the two ministers in the federal court, are hopeful of getting justice. Former Bolivian President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, lives in exile in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and former defense minister Jose Carlos Sanchez Berzain, is now a resident of Key Biscayne, Florida.
The two are accused of deaths of the civilians in Bolivia, way back in 2003, when the so-called “Black October” protests swelled into riots following years of resentment and poverty endured by Bolivia’s indigenous Aymara people. The situation reached a crisis when peasants tried to block roads, set fire to a tourist hotel and then mounted a violent blockade of the capital, La Paz.
In their defense, the two ministers said they are not subjected to the US law, since the incident took place in Bolivia, and not US. But attorneys for Bolivians bringing the lawsuit, said that the two former leaders chose to subject themselves to U.S. law by moving to this country after leaving power. On the other hand, the Bolivia’s ambassador to the U.S., Gustavo Guzman, denied any such charges by the two ministers in the 2003 protest.
The lawsuit is brought under two U.S. laws: one allows foreigners to sue in U.S. courts for violations of international law and another permits lawsuits against foreign officials for torture or extra judicial killings. Similar cases in US court, met with success. Howard Gutman, a Washington attorney for Sanchez de Lozada and Berzain, on the other hand said the lawsuit should be dismissed because U.S. courts have no jurisdiction over actions taken by foreign leaders under their own country’s laws. U.S. District Judge Adalberto Jordan has asked the State and Justice departments to submit views on the case by June 1.
Source: International Herald Tribune
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