Video.. Details of a failed coup attempt and the last confrontation between the Bolivian president and the coup leader

meglow24
27 Jun, 2024

A failed coup attempt took place in Bolivia in the past few hours. On Wednesday evening, the Bolivian police arrested the army commander, General Juan Jose Zuniga, after President Luis Arce dismissed him following a failed coup attempt by leading a military force that tried to storm the presidential palace in order to "restructure democracy" in the country, in a move that received widespread regional and international condemnation.

A video clip documented the details of the last conversation between the Bolivian president and the coup leader, where he called on him to return to the barracks and respect democracy.

last confrontation between the Bolivian president and the coup leader

Scenes broadcast on state television showed police officers arresting General Zuniga while he was speaking to journalists in front of a military barracks in the capital and forcing him into a police car while Interior Minister Johnny Aguilera addressed him, saying, "You are under arrest, General."

Failed coup attempt

The dismissed general was taken to the police station affiliated with the Special Anti-Crime Force. The Public Prosecution did not specify the charges against him.

The general's arrest came shortly after he and his men withdrew from Murillo Square in La Paz after taking control of it during the day and positioning armored vehicles in front of the presidential palace.

These soldiers had caused chaos in the capital when they advanced in close ranks through the streets leading to this square, which they had imposed restrictions on access to.

In response to this military action, Arce denounced on the social network "X" the "irregular movements of certain units of the Bolivian army".

Bolivia's president calls for respect for democracy

"Democracy must be respected," the leftist head of state said in a televised speech.

While the rebel soldiers took control of the square, an AFP journalist saw an armored vehicle trying to break down a metal door in the presidential palace, which General Zúñiga briefly entered.

"The armed forces are trying to restructure democracy, to make it a real democracy. Not the democracy of some masters who have been running the country for 30 or 40 years," said General Zuniga, surrounded by soldiers and eight tanks.

In response to the military's move without his permission, President Arce said in a video message to the nation, flanked by his ministers, "We need the Bolivian people to organize themselves and mobilize against the coup, in favor of democracy."

National mobilization in defense of democracy

"Soldiers and tanks are deployed in Murillo Square," he added, calling for "a national mobilization in defense of democracy."

The president quickly dismissed the army chief and appointed a new military command that was sworn in before him at the presidential palace, according to images broadcast live on national television.

The rebel soldiers withdrew from the presidential palace early in the evening.

Once the soldiers had left the scene, the president went out to the balcony of the palace to greet his supporters, who had gathered in the hundreds in the square.

"No one can take away the democracy we won," Arce said.

Since Tuesday, rumors have been circulating that General Zúñiga, who has been in office since November 2022, could be dismissed for exceeding his powers.

According to these rumors, the army chief was dismissed after making hostile statements against Morales, who was once a close ally of Arce and is now his biggest political opponent in the presidential campaign scheduled for next year.

General Zúñiga said he would not hesitate to arrest the former president if he insisted on running for president, a statement that contravenes the country's laws.

He added, "Legally, he is not qualified, he can no longer be president of this country."

He added that the army "is the armed wing of the country, and we will defend the constitution at all costs."

Morales served as president of Bolivia from 2006 to 2019, having been re-elected in 2009 and again in 2014.

In 2019, he resigned amid social unrest and allegations of electoral fraud.

The Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday strongly condemned the attempted coup in Bolivia that took place on Wednesday.

International reactions

The Russian Foreign Ministry described the situation as "unacceptable", expressing its "full and unwavering support" for Bolivian President Luis Arce.

"We strongly condemn the attempted military coup," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that "we warn against attempts at destructive external interference in Bolivia's internal affairs," without specifying which countries it meant.

From Madrid, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called for "respect" for democracy and the rule of law in Bolivia.

"Spain strongly condemns the military actions in Bolivia. We send our support and solidarity to the Bolivian government and people and call for respect for democracy and the rule of law," Sanchez wrote on Twitter.

In Washington, a spokesman for the US National Security Council said that "the United States is closely following the situation in Bolivia and calls for calm."

The leaders of Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico and Colombia called for respect for democracy in Bolivia.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wrote on Twitter: "I love democracy and I hope that it will prevail throughout Latin America."

In neighboring Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduro condemned the "coup attempt in Bolivia" orchestrated by "the far right with a military traitor," as he put it.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "deeply concerned" about the developments in Bolivia.

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