Bolivia coup attempt fails after military assault on presidential palace
- In Reports
- 07:11 PM, Jun 27, 2024
- Myind Staff
Bolivian armed forces withdrew from the presidential palace in La Paz on Wednesday evening, and a general was arrested after President Luis Arce denounced an attempted "coup" against his government and appealed for international assistance.
Earlier in the day, military units led by General Juan Jose Zuniga, who had recently been relieved of his military command, assembled in the central Plaza Murillo square, where the presidential palace and Congress are located. According to a Reuters witness, an armoured vehicle was observed ramming a door of the presidential palace, followed by soldiers rushing inside.
"Today the country is facing an attempted coup d'état. Today the country faces once again interests so that democracy in Bolivia is cut short," Arce said in comments from the presidential palace, with armed soldiers outside.
"The Bolivian people are summoned today. We need the Bolivian people to organise and mobilise against the coup d'état in favour of democracy."
Soon after the incident, the soldiers withdrew along with a convoy of military vehicles, while hundreds of supporters of President Arce flooded the square outside the palace. They waved Bolivian flags, sang the national anthem, and cheered in support.
Arce, surrounded by ministers, waved at the crowd. “Thank you to the Bolivian people,” he said. “Let democracy live on.”
Hours later, Juan José Zúñiga, the Bolivian general believed to be involved in the rebellion, was arrested after the attorney general initiated an investigation. The specific charges against him were not immediately disclosed.
However, in a twist, Zúñiga claimed in comments to journalists before his arrest that Arce himself told the general to storm the palace in a political move. “The president told me: ‘The situation is very screwed up, very critical. It is necessary to prepare something to raise my popularity’,” Zúñiga quoted the Bolivian leader as saying.
Justice Minister Iván Lima denied Zúñiga’s claims, saying the general was lying and trying to justify his own actions for which he will face justice.
Inside the presidential palace, President Arce appointed José Wilson Sanchez as the new military commander, taking over Zuniga's former role. Arce appealed for calm and emphasised the need to restore order.
"I order that all personnel mobilized on the streets return to their units," Sanchez said. "We entreat that the blood of our soldiers not be spilled."
Tensions are escalating in Bolivia ahead of the 2025 general elections, with former leftist President Evo Morales intending to challenge his former ally Arce. This has caused significant divisions within the ruling socialist party and heightened political uncertainty. Many oppose Morales' return, remembering his governance from 2006 to 2019, which ended amidst widespread protests, leading to his ousting and replacement by an interim conservative government. Arce then won the 2020 election.
Zuniga said recently that Morales should not be able to return as president and threatened to block him if he attempted to, which led Arce to remove Zuniga from his post.
Before the incident at the presidential palace, Zuniga had spoken to reporters in the square, highlighting the mounting discontent in Bolivia. The country, facing economic challenges including depleted central bank reserves and pressure on the boliviano currency due to reduced gas exports, has been struggling with an economic downturn.
"The three chiefs of the armed forces have come to express our dismay," Zuniga told a local TV station, calling for a new cabinet of ministers.
"Stop destroying, stop impoverishing our country, stop humiliating our army," he said in full uniform, flanked by soldiers, insisting the action being taken was supported by the public.
Following Wednesday’s turmoil, local media reports depicted Bolivians stocking up on food and other essentials in supermarkets, reflecting concerns about the future.
Addressing supporters outside the presidential palace, Vice President David Choquehuanca vowed, “Never again will the Bolivian people permit coup attempts.”
Image source: Reuters
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