Ousted Bolivia Chief Challenges Judges in His Murder Trial

LA PAZ, Bolivia — The trial of former Bolivian President Luis Garcia Meza, charged with genocide and murder, now in its second week, was in recess Tuesday after Garcia Meza’s lawyer questioned if three of the seven judges had the right to try the ousted military strongman.

Garcia Meza came to power in a July, 1980, coup, and led one of the most repressive regimes in Bolivia’s recent history. He is accused of torturing and murdering political opponents, including Socialist leader Marcelo Quiroga and eight leaders of another opposition group.

In February, the Bolivian Congress voted to bring Garcia Meza and his principal lieutentants to trial, the first time that such action has been taken here against a former president.

Garcia Meza, who was in hiding before the trial, caused surprise by appearing at the court’s April 7 opening session to deny charges against him. A day later, the proceedings were recessed when one of the plaintiffs representing leftist parties and unions asked that two judges be disqualified because they had been appointed by Garcia Meza in 1980.