Bolivian nation will prevail against US-, Israeli-backed coup: Morales

Former Bolivian President Evo Morales has said that the Bolivian nation will continue its fight against an American and Israeli backed “coup” in the country and ultimately prevail.

The coup government, "assisted by Israel and the US, will prepare itself [to stifle resistance], but when a nation rises, no system can stop it, like the Bolivian nation which has risen in quest for truth, unity and freedom,” Morales said during an exclusive interview with Iran’s Spanish-language television channel HispanTV on Thursday.

Morales was forced to resign on November 10 under pressure from the country's armed forces after the US-backed opposition there rejected the October election results. He was granted asylum in Mexico.

Morales has described his ouster as a “coup” and said there is evidence that Washington orchestrated it. 

Bolivia’s exiled Morales says US opposes his return

Former Bolivian president Evo Morales, who has traveled to Mexico since his forced resignation, says the United States opposes his return to Bolivia.

Earlier this week, Bolivia's self-proclaimed interim president, Jeanine Anez, signed a law preventing Morales from participating in a new election, which is expected to be held in upcoming months.

Interior Minister Arturo Murillo has hinted that the self-appointed government may seek to imprison Morales, accusing him of terrorism and sedition.

“Any terrorist should spend the rest of their life in prison,” he said in an interview with the leading British daily The Guardian on Sunday.

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Bolivia

Speaking to HispanTV, however, Morales explained that his “biggest crime was returning hope to the Bolivian people,” as his economic policies had benefited the Bolivian people to the detriment of certain political and business figures.

“Be sure that under the orders of Washington, the right-wing party will not allow me to return,” he said, adding that “my crime is defending the oppressed, the workers and the natives”.

“This is why I fear nothing and if anything happens to me or if I am arrested while returning [to Bolivia], the main culprit is the fascist right which carried out the coup, and secondly the US,” he said.

Promising a strong movement against the "coup" and stressing his right to participate in a new election, Morales did not specify if he would ultimately run in elections or return to Bolivia in the near future.

“With Evo or without Evo, we will guarantee the freedom of the Bolivian people,” he said, calling on all “natives, workers and everyone to be alert and try to regain political power” in order to protect the “interests of the nation”.

Morales vowed that the Bolivian nation will unite almost unanimously against the “self-appointed government” in the near future once it starts implementing its “neoliberal’ economic policies which are “dictated from abroad”.

During the interview, the former president also sent his “regards to all truth seekers within the international community" and "compatriots who are fighting for democracy”.

The former president was known internationally for his strong anti-imperialist and pro-Palestine positions during his tenure.

Morales cut relations with Tel Aviv in 2009 shortly after Israel carried out a deadly three-week incursion into Gaza, which led to the death of over 1,200 Palestinians.

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Bolivia

On Thursday, however, Bolivian Foreign Minister Karen Longaric said that the country plans to renew ties with Israel.

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