Bolivian armed forces on Wednesday arrested the general accused of attempting a coup against the country’s government, capping an hours-long offensive by armed soldiers who stormed the National Palace.
At a rapid pace over a few hours, video footage showed armored vehicles and troops led by army chief Gen. Juan Jose Zuniga appearing to surround the government headquarters of President Luis Arce, who described the demonstration as an attempted coup.
“The country is facing an attempted coup today,” Arce said, according to a CNBC translation. “We need the Bolivian people to mobilize and organize against the coup and for democracy.”
Senior ministry official Maria Nela Prada released video footage from the Plaza de Murillo, the central square of the government headquarters in La Paz, where she reported the presence of tanks and troops who acted “irregularly” and controlled access to the site.
“We want to denounce this attempted coup, this breach of the constitutional order, and of course at this moment, as we have always said, the people are vigilant – the Bolivian people – and also the organizations to defend our democracy,” she said according to a CNBC translation.
The president named three new army, navy and air commanders, with Jose Wilson Sanchez taking over as the country’s new military chief and urging the armed forces to resign. As the Associated Press reported, the soldiers retreated, making way for waves of Arce’s supporters. Defense Minister Edmundo Novillo later told a press conference that the situation in the country’s armed forces was now under control following the appointment of a new commander.
Video footage showed Zuniga being surrounded by crowds and arrested after Bolivian Justice Minister Ivan Lima called him a “traitor” and announced a criminal investigation against the general.
Government Minister Eduardo del Castillo later confirmed the arrest of Zuniga and former Navy Vice Admiral Juan Arnez Salvador.
During the movement, Zuniga, who was removed from office on Tuesday after heavily criticizing former Bolivian President Evo Morales, had declared his intention to overhaul the country’s cabinet of ministers, citing a patriotic duty to “restore” the nation .
“There will certainly be a new cabinet soon. The military units are in a ready/ready position. All units,” Zuniga said during the military move, according to a CNBC translation. “There will be a new cabinet of ministers. But our country, our state cannot continue like this. Just like her.” [politicians] do whatever they feel like doing. We show our anger. Our rebellion is a duty, our obligation as soldiers of the homeland, of the armed forces, of the armies that this country has produced and that were forged to restore this country. We’ll take it.
When asked if the coup plotters wanted to take over the Bolivian president’s residence, the general replied “yes.”
The apparent coup is the latest blow to a country struggling with a severe economic crisis exacerbated by U.S. dollar shortages, high national debt and declining natural gas production after the country benefited from the 2014 commodities boom. The International Monetary Fund predicts the country’s economy will grow by 1.6% this year.
The international community gathered to condemn the apparent coup attempt.
“The European Union condemns any attempt to undermine the constitutional order in #Bolivia and overthrow democratically elected governments, and expresses its solidarity with the Bolivian government and people,” EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell said on social media.
“Spain strongly condemns the military movements in Bolivia,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on social media platform X, according to a CNBC translation. “We express our support and solidarity to the government and people of Bolivia and call for respect for democracy and the rule of law.”
Other South American countries, from Venezuela to Paraguay, Cuba and Chile, also condemned the military action.
Arce welcomed international support: “We will defend democracy and the will of the Bolivian people, whatever the cost!” he said on social media, according to a CNBC translation. “We salute and thank the presidents of friendly countries and international organizations who have spoken out in favor of Bolivian democracy in the face of the planned coup attempt against our government, legitimately elected by the majority of Bolivians.”
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2024-06-27 08:50:14
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