Neither impunity nor amnesia in Bolivia

By: Johnny Nogales Viruez - 21/08/2026

Guest columnist.
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The MAS party quickly recognized the opportunity.

After having subjugated justice, used the police to persecute adversaries, tolerated corruption and led the country into its current economic, social and moral crisis, its leaders now appear as promoters of truth and defenders of a woman who suffered an attempted femicide.

There is no shame in that exploitation.

Those who for years ignored victims, covered up abuses and put institutions at the service of their interests want the outrage caused by the attack against Nadia Beller to erase from the collective memory almost two decades of atrocities.

But the MAS party's deception does not diminish the seriousness of the case.

The Prosecutor's Office and the Institute of Forensic Investigations confirmed that Beller was shot three times: in the neck, chest, and arm. This is therefore not a fabrication or a romantic dispute artificially turned into news.

From the hospital, Beller made extremely serious accusations against Fernando Cerimedo, personal advisor to President Rodrigo Paz, and also implicated the president himself, his wife, ministers, advisors, and police commanders. She spoke of illicit dealings involving fuel, gold, and insurance; hidden money; police groups under Cerimedo's control; and maneuvers to cover up a previous attempted femicide. She also stated that Cerimedo knew about the meeting she had been summoned to and falsely assured her that she would be protected.

These accusations cannot be taken as proven facts, but neither can they be dismissed through press releases, personal attacks, or campaigns aimed at destroying the complainant's credibility. They must be investigated until the truth is established.

The raids carried out in La Paz increased the seriousness of the case. In properties linked to Cerimedo, money was found, along with a satellite phone, police uniforms, a vehicle that appeared to be official, and furniture with hidden compartments.

It is necessary to determine the origin of the money, the ownership of the properties, the content of the communications, and the true political and economic relationship of Cerimedo with the President.

If the allegations against Rodrigo Paz and his associates are proven, the consequences would not be merely legal. A government implicated in such a scheme would be politically and morally unfit to continue.

That is precisely why the investigation must offer exceptional guarantees of independence.

The actions of Attorney General Roger Mariaca raise suspicions. Speed ​​may be necessary, but his public profile and the political implications of his decisions oblige him to guarantee the autonomy of prosecutors, the preservation of evidence, and the investigation of all allegations, even those implicating ministers, police officers, and members of the presidential entourage. Demonstrating speed is not enough. He must inspire confidence.

The conduct of the president of the Supreme Court of Justice, Romer Saucedo, is also not without its flaws. He acknowledged his friendship with Beller, called Cerimedo after the attack, went to the clinic accompanied by other magistrates, and stated that he had instructed that the case not be sealed.

Solidarity with the victim is understandable, but it demanded institutional prudence. Saucedo must clarify when he spoke with Cerimedo and what information he received. Publicizing the proceedings may be advisable, but that decision rests with the competent judge, not the president of the Supreme Court.

These actions take on greater significance because the authorities tasked with investigating and judging come from a selection and appointment system established during the MAS party's dominance. It is not enough for them to proclaim their impartiality. They must conduct themselves in a way that leaves no room for doubt.

Therefore, a multi-party legislative commission should be formed to oversee the investigations, summon the relevant authorities, and ensure the preservation of documents, communications, and evidence. This is not to replace prosecutors and judges, but to prevent a case that reaches the highest levels of power from depending solely on institutions like the Public Prosecutor's Office and the justice system, whose credibility is also at stake.

The government had already accumulated too many unresolved issues. The suitcases brought in through Viru Viru airport, the unclaimed gold, the assets linked to Sebastián Marset, the allegations against police commanders, and the rise of contract killings had created a profound atmosphere of distrust.

Now it's raining on already wet ground.

The new accusations target the President's personal advisor, his wife, ministers, other government officials, and police commanders. Silence, evasiveness, or any attempt at a cover-up could completely destroy the authority of a government whose capacity to handle the crisis was already seriously questioned.

The MAS party intends to use this case to erase its past. The government may try to protect its present. Bolivia must not accept either cover-up.

No impunity for those responsible.

Nor amnesia for those who today seek to judge after having destroyed justice

«The opinions published herein are the sole responsibility of its author».