2014 Dakar Rally to travel through Bolivia

Cyril Despres of France and KTM Red Bull Rally Factory Team, 1st place in Motos (R) and Stephane Peterhansel of France and team Mini, 1st place in Autos (L) celebrate during the podium presentations at the end of the 2013 Dakar Rally on January 20, 2013 in Santiago, Chile. (Getty Images)

La Paz, June 13 (IANS): Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) has confirmed that the 2014 Dakar Rally will travel through Bolivia.

Bolivian president Evo Morales said Wednesday that Minister of Presidency Juan Ramon Quintana talked with Dakar’s organisers, who confirmed Bolivia is included in the rally’s route, reports Xinhua.

The confirmation comes after a group of US congressmen and actor Sean Penn launched a campaign for Bolivia to be taken out of Dakar’s route until American citizen Jacob Ostreicher, accused of drug trafficking and money laundering and currently under house arrest in Bolivia, is released.

“We are confident that Dakar will pass through Bolivia and we are working to give the best impression to the world,” said Morales.

According to reports, Penn’s international campaign seeks the support of 150 US Congressmen, besides gathering 500,000 signatures worldwide to question Bolivia’s respect for human rights.

“Regretfully, some US citizens are criminals who came to Bolivia and use their authorities to continue damaging Bolivia. Particularly, they are enemies of the indigenous movement,” said Morales.

The 2014 Dakar Rally will travel through Bolivia Jan 12-13 when motorcycles and quads will cross the Uyuni Salt Plate, in the Potosi region, without mechanical assistance, according to ASO.

Only motorcycles and quads will cross Bolivia while cars and trucks will travel from Argentina directly to Chile.