The Santa Cruz Youth Union (''Unión Juvenil Cruceñista'') (UJC) is a
far-right
Far-right politics, also referred to as the extreme right or right-wing extremism, are political beliefs and actions further to the right of the left–right political spectrum than the standard political right, particularly in terms of being ...
movement based in
Santa Cruz,
Bolivia
, image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg
, flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center
, flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...
. Founded in 1957 as an arm of the Pro Santa Cruz Committee (''Comite Pro Santa Cruz'
the UJC has recently become the subject of controversy and accusation concerning its activities in support of the
Santa Cruz autonomy movement in opposition to the government of
Evo Morales and his
MAS
Mas, Más or MAS may refer to:
Film and TV
* Más y Menos, fictional superhero characters, from the Teen Titans animated television series
* Más (Breaking Bad), "Más" (''Breaking Bad''), a season three episode of ''Breaking Bad''
Songs
* Más ( ...
political party.
History
The organization was founded in 1957 by Carlos Valverde Barbery, leader of the
Bolivian Socialist Falange
The Bolivian Socialist Falange ( es, Falange Socialista Boliviana) is a Bolivian political party established in 1937. It is a far-rightJohn, S (2006) ''Permanent Revolution on the Altiplano: Bolivian Trotskyism, 1928-2005'', p. 445 party drawing ...
, a
falangist party. According to its founder, "the Union of Crucenist Youth was created to be the "armed arm" of the Pro-Santa Cruz Committee, taking charge not only of the street struggle but also of popular indoctrination and military support to the committee. » In 1971, it took part in
Hugo Banzer's coup d'état. Carlos Valverde Barbery was appointed Minister of Health.
Claiming a membership of more than two thousand, the UJC has violently enforced general civic strikes called for by the Pro Santa Cruz Committee, intimidated and assaulted leftist political opponents, and provided security for the 4 May
Santa Cruz Autonomy referendum, participating in violent clashes the day of the vote. Two members of the UJC were arrested and accused of plotting to assassinate Morales on 20 June 2008, when encountered by police in possession of a rifle, scope, and ammunition in Santa Cruz prior to the president's flight arrival.
Prensa Latina Suspected Attackers of Evo Arrested 20 June 2008 Some sources claimed that they were captured at the airport, but others located the suspects in a popular market.[El gobierno boliviano dice que planeaban matar a Evo.](_blank)
El Ciudadano ''(in spanish)''. 21 June 2008. Nevertheless, the prosecutor dismissed the case and they were both released shortly afterwards.
Ideology and characteristics
Being a Falangist is still a condition for joining the Union of Crucenist Youth. Known for its violent activism, the organization is considered a paramilitary group
A paramilitary is an organization whose structure, tactics, training, subculture, and (often) function are similar to those of a professional military, but is not part of a country's official or legitimate armed forces. Paramilitary units carr ...
by the International Federation for Human Rights
The International Federation for Human Rights (french: Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme; FIDH) is a non-governmental federation for human rights organizations. Founded in 1922, FIDH is the third oldest international h ...
(FIDH). Its activists are generally from the bourgeoisie.
References
External links
Operatoria y lenguaje de la UJC
La ujc trato de voicotear concentración de sectores sociales
Unión cruceñista golpea a campesinos
Periodista salva indígena apaleado x juventud cruceñista
SEPARATISTAS agreden policía BOLIVIA SANTA CRUZ 4 MAYO DE 2008
Nación camba, discriminación a Bolivianos, 4 de mayo de 2008
Bolivia Santa Cruz Violencia por parte de Unión Junevil
Cruceños de barrios pobres se enfrentaron a unionistas en el paro convocado por empresarios y cívicos
A las armas cruceños. Ahora (Habla David Cejas, dirigente de la UJC)
Autonomia para los ricos, revolucion para los pobres 1
Autonomia para los ricos, revolucion para los pobres 2
Los unionistas piden asilo en la catedral de Santa Cruz
{{Authority control
Fascism in South America
Neo-fascist organizations
Organisations based in Bolivia
Far-right politics in Bolivia
Racism in Bolivia
Santa Cruz de la Sierra