CUPE Ontario joins CUPE National and the international community in condemning the coup in Bolivia. The military removal of Evo Morales, the crushing of democratic rights in Bolivia and the repression of protesters including the indigenous people, poor and labour activists in the country amount to nothing but a military coup, which is a violation of all internationally recognised conventions and human rights.
The international labour movements including trade union federations in the Americas as well as the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) have condemned the coup and been calling for the restoration of democratic rights in Bolivia and the international community to support and oversee peaceful elections in the country, which would also include a safe return of Evo Morales from Mexico.
CUPE Ontario denounces Canadian government’s support for this coup and calls for the government to respect the sovereignty of the Bolivian people to determine their own political future, without military or foreign interference. The Liberal government’s double standards on the human rights and respect for people’s freedoms and self-determination in different parts of the world is appalling and must end. The labour movement in Canada has an obligation to stand against the Canadian government’s foreign policy which is primarily influenced by and in line with the US administration’s foreign policies and other right wing governments and profit seeking multi-national corporations.
We echo CUPE National’s serious concerns about the current situation in Bolivia and extend our solidarity and support to the Bolivian working class and indigenous communities who will be most affected by the social and economic instability that accompanies this attack on their democratic rights.
