The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia strongly rejected the kidnapping of nine people, at the hands of Chilean carabineros, and demanded their immediate release.
In a flagrant violation of the sovereignty, police officers of the neighboring country entered the national territory and arbitrarily arrested seven custom officers and two soldiers who were involved in the struggle against smuggling, denounced a statement of the Bolivian Foreign Ministry.
The text warned that the Chilean troops entered the Bolivian territory without any proper authorization and carrying weapons, which constitutes a crime.
The Foreign Ministry summoned the consul general of Chile, Manuel Hinojosa, to protest for such a violation and demand the immediate release of the Bolivian people.
The incident took place on the eve of the presentation of the Bolivian demand in the International Court of Justice in Le Hague, as part of the lawsuit against Chile to achieve a sovereign exit to the sea.
The Minister of the Presidency, René MartÃnez, described as absolutely false statements of the Chilean President, Michelle Bachelet, that Bolivians penetrated into his country.
The incidents were recorded Sunday at noon, when two soldiers and seven officials of the Bolivian national customs detected three trucks of Chile with goods smuggled in Bolivian territory.
Two trucks fled, but the third was arrested in order to take it to the nearest police station, but at that time settlers and police crossed the border, arrested Bolivians and drove them to Colchane.
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