Opposition linked to alleged Morales death plot

[Judi Lynn]

Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Opposition linked to alleged Morales death plot

TOM HENNIGAN in São Paulo
LEADING FIGURES in Bolivia’s opposition were involved with the group which included Irishman Michael Dwyer and allegedly planned to kill the country’s left-wing president Evo Morales, according to the prosecutor investigating the case.

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The prosecutor said his evidence is in part based on testimony from four witnesses: Mario Tádic, the Bolivian of Croatian descent and one of the two men arrested in the hotel where Dwyer was killed; Juan Carlos Gueder Bruno and Alcides Mendoza, both arrested last week in Santa Cruz and accused of supplying the group with a weapon; and Ignacio Villa Vargas, described by the prosecutor as his key witness.

Said to have acted as a local fixer for the group, Villa Vargas is a 51-year-old career criminal with a police record dating back to 1981 involving fraud, dealing in stolen cars and falsifying US visas. He is reportedly gravely ill with diabetes.

He says he was present at meetings involving the group’s leader, Eduardo Rozsa Flores, Mr Marinkovic and the other prominent figures implicated. At one meeting he claims Mr Marinkovic rang Mr Costas, the regional government’s head. Mr Costas supposedly offered the group a house and land where they could stay and train.

Mr Marinkovic is accused of providing the group with $200,000 to buy arms. The money was given to Argentine gun dealers who disappeared with it without providing weapons, according to one of the other witnesses, Alcides Mendoza.

More:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2009/0506/1224245993807.html