The former general commander of the Bolivian army Juan José Zuniga – dismissed yesterday after having publicly threatened the former president Evo Morales – in command of a hundred soldiers broke into the government building in Murillo square, in La Paz, where finds President Luis Arce himself reunited with the entire cabinet and has taken control of it
Former general Juan José Zuñiga, after the coup, declared that a new government will soon be appointed because “the country cannot go on like this”. Images broadcast live by the ‘Telesur’ broadcaster showed an armored military vehicle forcing the main door of the building and Zuñiga himself entering the building accompanied by armed soldiers with their faces covered. Before storming into the building, Zuñiga made a public statement in Murillo Square where he called for the resignation of President Luis Arce and the entire government.
A video broadcast on Bolivian television shows President Luis Arce confronting the general commander of the army, Juan José Zúñiga, in the corridor of the palace. “I am your captain and I order you to withdraw your soldiers and I will not allow this insubordination,” Arce’s words. Before entering the government building, Zúñiga told journalists present in the square: “There will certainly be a new government soon, our country, our state cannot go on like this.” Then he declared that military forces in the country had begun to free political prisoners, saying that democracy would be “re-established.” Telesur reports it
The action of the armed forces had shortly before been defined as ‘irregular’ by President Luis Alberto Arce. “We call the people together and ask them to rise up against the ongoing coup attempt and stand in favor of democracy.” President Luis Alberto Arce Catacora said this during a short statement. “We are all here and here we will remain determined to counter the coup attempt that threatens our democracy,” added Arce. “We cannot allow coup attempts to cause the deaths of Bolivians. We urge all those who care about democracy and social organizations to once again show the path of democracy to the Bolivian people.” A few minutes earlier, the head of state had met General Zúniga asking him to demobilize the troops who in the meantime had surrounded Piazza Murillo and put up barriers to prevent citizens from approaching the government palace. The military used tear gas against the crowd who, shouting “coup plotters” and “Lucho is not alone”, attempted to move closer to the square.
The former president of Bolivia, Evo Morales, invited citizens and political movements to take to the streets and on ”. “This means that the coup d’état was prepared in advance,” continues Morales’ post, which concludes with an appeal to the people to “defend the homeland from some military groups that act against democracy”.
Facts & Events editorial team
