Cesar Zelada is a well known student activist in Peru. He is also a member
of the Fuerza de Izquierda Socialista, a left wing group, and the organiser
of the Hands off Venezuela campaign in Peru.

He was in Bolivia as part of a delegation of Peruvian student activists
invited by the Youth wing of the Bolivian Workers' Union (COB - the Bolivian
TUC)

He was arrested on September 13th, in the capital La Paz, during a raid at
the house of the Bolivian student activist where he was staying. All the
other people arrested with him were released shortly afterwards. Cesar was
not. He is being kept in jail in the San Pedro Penal, in La Paz. He is being
accused of possession of explosive, a charge which could get him a sentence
of between 3 to 6 years of jail.

Clearly the accusation is false, but is part of a more general campaign of
the government to criminalise the movement of Bolivian workers and students
and brand them as "terrorists" with connections with foreign
"narco-terrorist" groups.

We ask people to phone the Bolivian embassy in London and enquire about this case (why has he been arrested, when is the trial going to be, demand his release) The phone number of the Bolivian embassy in London is: 020 7235 4248 and
you should ask to speak to Pablo Ossio who is the Minister Consular.


comradely

jorge