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Ladybbird · 28-06-24, 04:16

Bolivias’ President Sees Off Attempted Coup After Urging Citizens to Take to Streets

Luis Arce said the countrys’ democracy was at stake after army troops seized control of La Paz’s political heart and military police storm palace

The Guardian 28 JUN 2024

Military troops deployed outside the Quemado Palace at the Plaza de Armas in La Paz on Wednesday.

Bolivia’s President Luis Arce appears to have seen off an attempt to topple his leftwing government after a dramatic afternoon in which heavily armed troops, seemingly commanded by a top army general, stormed the government palace before beating a retreat and seeing their alleged leader detained.

On Wednesday afternoon Arce urged citizens to take to the streets to defend the country’s democracy from an apparent coup attempt, after troops seized control of a central square in La Paz which houses government buildings.

“We need the Bolivian people to mobilise and organise themselves against this coup d’état and in favour of democracy,” Arce said in a video message filmed at the Great House of the People, the official presidential residence in Bolivia’s de facto capital of La Paz.

Flanked by members of his cabinet, Arce declared: “We cannot allow, once again, attempted coups to claim Bolivian lives.”

“Long live the people of Bolivia! Long live democracy!” the ministers shouted, thrusting their left fists into the air. “Long live our president, Luis Arce!”

The comments came after other members of Arce’s administration and Latin American leaders claimed an army-led putsch was under way.

“We denounce to the international community that a coup attempt against our democratically elected government,” the vice-president, David Choquehuanca, tweeted on Wednesday afternoon.

In a video message, the foreign minister, Celinda Sosa Lunda, claimed some army units had launched an attack on “democracy, peace and national security”.

On Wednesday afternoon, that democracy looked in peril as television footage showed masked members of the military police forcing their way into the Palacio Quemado.

The newspaper Los Tiempos quoted the head of Bolivia’s army as saying that Arce remained president “for the time being”, although as the hours passed Arce seemed to reassert control. The president confronted Zúñiga as he entered the palace and was filmed instructing the general to stand his troops down: “I am your captain. Obey my orders.”

By late afternoon Arce had named a new military high command and reports suggested troops and armoured vehicles were withdrawing from Plaza Murillo in La Paz’s historic centre, where the seemingly botched rebellion had played out.

The new army chief, José Wilson Sánchez Velásquez, appeared on state television alongside Arce and ordered the troops who had hit the streets to return to barracks. As he spoke, the president’s supporters chanted: “Democracy! Democracy! Democracy!”

By the evening there were reports that Zúñiga had been detained on suspicion of the crimes of terrorism and armed uprising at the entrance to the general staff headquarters in La Paz. Footage showed him being driven away in a white police pickup truck.

Tensions have been building in Bolivia ahead of general elections in 2025, with leftist Morales planning to run against former ally Arce, creating a major rift in the ruling socialist party and wider political uncertainty.

28-06-24, 04:16	#1
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 50,580 Thanks: 28,767 Thanked 14,428 Times in 10,234 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	Bolivia Attempted Coup: Top General Arrested as Armed Rebellion Fails Bolivias’ President Sees Off Attempted Coup After Urging Citizens to Take to Streets Luis Arce said the countrys’ democracy was at stake after army troops seized control of La Paz’s political heart and military police storm palace The Guardian 28 JUN 2024 Military troops deployed outside the Quemado Palace at the Plaza de Armas in La Paz on Wednesday. Bolivia’s President Luis Arce appears to have seen off an attempt to topple his leftwing government after a dramatic afternoon in which heavily armed troops, seemingly commanded by a top army general, stormed the government palace before beating a retreat and seeing their alleged leader detained. On Wednesday afternoon Arce urged citizens to take to the streets to defend the country’s democracy from an apparent coup attempt, after troops seized control of a central square in La Paz which houses government buildings. “We need the Bolivian people to mobilise and organise themselves against this coup d’état and in favour of democracy,” Arce said in a video message filmed at the Great House of the People, the official presidential residence in Bolivia’s de facto capital of La Paz. Flanked by members of his cabinet, Arce declared: “We cannot allow, once again, attempted coups to claim Bolivian lives.” “Long live the people of Bolivia! Long live democracy!” the ministers shouted, thrusting their left fists into the air. “Long live our president, Luis Arce!” The comments came after other members of Arce’s administration and Latin American leaders claimed an army-led putsch was under way. “We denounce to the international community that a coup attempt against our democratically elected government,” the vice-president, David Choquehuanca, tweeted on Wednesday afternoon. In a video message, the foreign minister, Celinda Sosa Lunda, claimed some army units had launched an attack on “democracy, peace and national security”. On Wednesday afternoon, that democracy looked in peril as television footage showed masked members of the military police forcing their way into the Palacio Quemado. The newspaper Los Tiempos quoted the head of Bolivia’s army as saying that Arce remained president “for the time being”, although as the hours passed Arce seemed to reassert control. The president confronted Zúñiga as he entered the palace and was filmed instructing the general to stand his troops down: “I am your captain. Obey my orders.” By late afternoon Arce had named a new military high command and reports suggested troops and armoured vehicles were withdrawing from Plaza Murillo in La Paz’s historic centre, where the seemingly botched rebellion had played out. The new army chief, José Wilson Sánchez Velásquez, appeared on state television alongside Arce and ordered the troops who had hit the streets to return to barracks. As he spoke, the president’s supporters chanted: “Democracy! Democracy! Democracy!” By the evening there were reports that Zúñiga had been detained on suspicion of the crimes of terrorism and armed uprising at the entrance to the general staff headquarters in La Paz. Footage showed him being driven away in a white police pickup truck. Tensions have been building in Bolivia ahead of general elections in 2025, with leftist Morales planning to run against former ally Arce, creating a major rift in the ruling socialist party and wider political uncertainty.

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