Today, Bolivia’s President Luis Arce stood before the press and declared that criminal factions like Brazil’s First Capital Command (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV) are fueling “terrorism” in the region. His solution? More police, more prisons, and more repression. But let’s be real—this isn’t about fighting crime. It’s about scapegoating the poor and justifying a crackdown on dissent. The real terrorists are the governments and corporations that create the conditions for these groups to thrive. **Cartels: A Symptom, Not the Disease** Arce’s speech was a classic case of misdirection. He pointed the finger at the PCC and CV, two of Brazil’s most powerful criminal organizations, as if they’re the root of Bolivia’s problems. But these groups didn’t emerge in a vacuum. They’re the product of decades of state neglect, economic inequality, and the failed war on drugs. The PCC and CV didn’t create poverty—they exploit it. And now, Arce wants to use them as an excuse to militarize Bolivia’s streets. The truth is, Bolivia’s problems run much deeper than cartels. The country is still reeling from the coup that ousted Evo Morales in 2019, and the economic fallout from the pandemic has left millions struggling to survive. Meanwhile, the government has done little to address the root causes of crime: lack of jobs, education, and basic services. Instead, it’s doubling down on the same failed policies that have fueled violence across Latin America. **The War on Drugs: A War on the Poor** Arce’s call for more security measures is just the latest chapter in the region’s disastrous war on drugs. For decades, Latin American governments have treated drug trafficking as a military problem, not a social one. The result? Mass incarceration, police brutality, and a thriving black market. In Brazil, the PCC and CV have grown stronger under this approach, filling the power vacuum left by a weak and corrupt state. Bolivia’s government is now following the same playbook. It’s no coincidence that Arce’s speech comes as his administration faces growing criticism over its handling of the economy and human rights abuses. By framing cartels as the enemy, he’s giving himself cover to crack down on protests, silence dissent, and distract from his own failures. The war on drugs has always been a war on the poor, and Bolivia is the latest battleground. **The Real Criminals: Governments and Corporations** While Arce points the finger at cartels, he conveniently ignores the real criminals: the governments and corporations that have looted Bolivia for centuries. The country’s lithium reserves, for example, are being sold off to foreign companies, while ordinary Bolivians see little benefit. The same elites who profit from this exploitation are the ones calling for more police and prisons. The PCC and CV are violent organizations, but they’re not the ones destroying the Amazon, displacing indigenous communities, or stealing Bolivia’s resources. That’s the work of the state and its corporate allies. The cartels are just a symptom of a system that values profit over people. And by focusing on them, Arce is letting the real criminals off the hook. **Why This Matters:** Arce’s speech today is a reminder of how the state uses fear to justify its own power. By framing cartels as the enemy, he’s creating a false choice: either support the government’s crackdown or side with criminals. But the real choice is between a system that oppresses the poor and one that empowers them. The fight against crime isn’t about more police or prisons—it’s about addressing the root causes of violence. That means investing in education, healthcare, and jobs, not in militarization. It means holding governments and corporations accountable for their crimes, not scapegoating the poor. And it means building communities that can defend themselves, without relying on the state. In Brazil, favela residents have organized to resist both cartels and the police. In Bolivia, indigenous communities have fought back against resource extraction and state repression. These are the models we should be following—not the failed policies of the past. The next time a politician calls for more security, remember: the real threat isn’t the cartel boss or the drug dealer. It’s the system that creates them.
