Prosecutor Leopoldo Chui accepted to harvest potatoes in the community of Queascapa of the Bolivian province of Camacho, as punishment for not attending a meeting of indigenous authorities.
The indigenous authorities convened Chui to their community on February 20 so he could explain a dispute over land between two families. However, the prosecutor did not attend.
As a result, the indigenous authorities issued a resolution. In said resolution, they considered that Chui's absence was disrespectful to the community and decided to "punish Leopoldo Richard Chui Torrez, prosecutor from Puerto Acosta, province of Camacho, according to their customs (...) on Monday May 18, 2015."
The prosecutor was notified and voluntarily went to carry out his sanction.
"The prosecutor general and the departmental prosecutor have trained us to be respectful of indigenous norms and common standards, so if you have decided that the subscribed prosecutor should be punished mildly, then this prosecutor agrees to abide by your rules, procedures and sanctions, "Chui said before serving his sentence.
However, the prosecutor asked the community members to apply the same punishment against the authorities, whether they are judges or government officials, who don't attend their calls.
The community's attorney, Felix Callisaya, appreciated the prosecutor's willingness to accept their punishment and said that it didn't involve any kind of shock or aggression.
The prosecutor carried out his sanction and the villagers told him that, since he had worked on it, he could take part of the harvest.
In the end, the indigenous authorities said the community would invite the judge of the same case so they could listen to his explanation. "If he doesn't attend, he will receive the same sanction," they warned.
Source: ERBOL, Bolivia