​El Grupo de Puebla says Luis Almagro lacks moral authority
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Mexico City, March 18 (RHC)-- El Grupo de Puebla (The Puebla Group) -- made up of presidents, former presidents and progressive leaders of Latin America -- warned of insufficient moral authority in the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, to criticize Bolivia for arresting leaders of a coup d'tat.

In a communiqué, the Group points out that it views "with great concern" the OAS statements on an alleged abuse of judicial mechanisms in Bolivia, as it flagrantly disregards the independence of powers in that country.

"The OAS presumes, without any basis whatsoever, that this is a campaign of persecution directed by the government, which it accuses of resorting to repressive instruments," it says in reference to a statement issued by the organization on Monday, following the arrest of former de facto president Jeanine Áñez and the intensification of judicial proceedings against part of her cabinet.

"As a Group, we do not recognize moral authority of Secretary Luis Almagro, after the role played by the Observation Mission under his charge in the 2019 elections, after which the coup d'état against the government of Evo Morales took place, whose responsibilities are being judged at this moment by the Bolivian justice system."