Cocalero Federations Mount Armed Vigil, Warn Security Forces Over Morales

Coca-grower federations loyal to Evo Morales set up a vigil near the Army's Ninth Division in the Trópico de Cochabamba, warning police and soldiers they "will not guarantee" the safety of any officer who tries to "take the life" of Morales or move against the vigil. The mobilization follows Morales's Aug 20 assassination-plot claim and his Aug 23 statement that a colonel had urged him to wear a bulletproof vest permanently because plans against him had moved "beyond a simple detention." Six cocalero federations called a rally for Aug 26 in Ivirgarzama, about 230 km from Cochabamba — with 23 days left before the 90-day state of emergency (declared Jun 20) is due to expire.