Bolivia protests of Morales Supporters Cause Death of Eight
(Photo : Reuters)

The political crisis in the country of Bolivia has yet again shifted to a deadly scenario as security officers reportedly opened fire on supporters of the recently exiled president, Evo Morales. 

According to a statement released by Bolivian authorities on Saturday, eight Bolivian citizens have died and lots more wounded during protests of the current government administration. Citizens of Bolivia are unhappy in regards to the administration's failing efforts to bring back the country's stability and its economy.

According to a statement released to The Associate Press by the director of the hospital in Sacaba Guadalberto Lara, the majority of deaths stemmed from gunshot wounds. The incident happened on Friday in Sacaba, a place near Cochahamba city. The director also said that that was the worst case of violence he had witnessed in his 30-year long career in the medical field.

Maddened protesters and the relatives of the dead and injured Bolivian protesters have gathered in the actual site where the shootings took place. Reports claim that the group is calling for a violent uprising. Sources have also reported hearing the group chanting, "Civil war, now!"

Former President Morales recently posted on his Twitter account a description of the incidents that are happening in the country of Bolivia. He called the devastating event of the Bolivia protests incident as a "massacre" and called the current leader of Bolivia, Jeanine Áñez, the leader of an interim government of dictatorship.

"Now they are killing our brothers in Sacaba, Cochabamba," said the former president of Bolivia.

Áñez is the highest position holder in the government who opposed the leadership of former president Morales. She had declared herself as the President of the country of Bolivia upon the resignation of Morales after stating that all of the higher-ranking officials above her who had supported Morales had also resigned. This left her holding the highest position in the government of Bolivia, and essentially in-charge.

According to the office of the Ombudsman, a minimum of thirteen citizens of Bolivia had lost their lives during the multiple weeks of earlier rallies against the leadership of former president Morales before he left office.

A lot of people had clashed with the supporters of Morales trying to acquire victory in the re-election.

"It is not a license for the Armed Forces to kill... if one defends oneself in self-defense, there is no penalty," said Jerjes Justiano, the presidency minister, during a press conference basing the decree on the Criminal Code of the country of Bolivia.

According to the statement issued by the former President of Chile and current United Nations Human Rights Chief, Michelle Bachelet on Saturday, she described the killings as "an extremely dangerous development." 

"I am really concerned that the situation in Bolivia could spin out of control if the authorities do not handle it sensitively and in accordance with international norms. The country is split and people on both sides of the political divide are extremely angry. In a situation like this, repressive actions by the authorities will simply stoke that anger even further and are likely to jeopardize any possible avenue for dialogue," said Bachelet.