Families of those arrested in failed Bolivian coup say they were deceived. President says it's not his problem

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Death threats poured in shortly after the arrest of Gimena Silva's husband, accused of participating in a Failed Coup in Bolivia.

“They call us and tell us that if we do anything, if we say anything, they will make us disappear. They threaten us, but also our children,” Silva said. “These are anonymous calls and they say they will kill our children.”

Today, Silva, a mother of three, sits with her crying mother and brother at the gates of a prison, clinging to any news about her husband, Luis Domingo Balanza.

Balanza, a military major for more than 15 years, was among the 21 people arrested after a group of military and armored vehicles attempted what the government called a ” failed coup“On Friday evening, a Bolivian judge sent the former general away. Juan Jose Zuñigawho led the failed coup, in a maximum security prison on remand alongside two others accused of terrorism and armed uprising against the state.

Families of the inmates were visibly confused and worried in the prison where their loved ones were being held Friday, saying they had no idea of ​​a plot that led to Wednesday’s spectacle. Many of the inmates’ families said their loved ones were simply “following orders” or had been told they were conducting a “military exercise.”

Bolivian President Luis Arce has washed his hands of families' claims that those detained were innocent or deceived in an interview Friday with The Associated Press.

“It’s a problem of those involved, it’s not the government’s problem,” Arce said.

Images from Bolivia shocked the world on Wednesday as an armoured car rammed into the government palace in La Paz, the seat of the country's government, and military officers fled after Arce said his government would not back down.

Eduardo del Castillo, a senior government official, told AP Friday that a sniper squad was on its way to help Zuñiga but failed to arrive in time as the coup plot failed. He said the coup attempt represented a resounding failure by Bolivian intelligence.

Zuñiga, meanwhile, was fired by Arce amid the chaos and claimed he stormed the government office as a favor to Arce in order to gain political favor at a time of deep economic discontent. Boliviacausing doubt in many.

About 200 military personnel participated in the coup attempt, Bolivia's ambassador to the Organization of American States said Thursday.

“These people ordered the destruction of Bolivia’s heritage,” Del Castillo said at a news conference.

Del Castillo's remarks were echoed by hundreds of protesters who marched past the prison and other government buildings Friday, carrying signs that read “Zuñiga, traitor, coup leader, respect the State “.

Inside, weeping families told a different story.

Silva and her mother, Daniela, said their family was economically devastated, with no income to care for their three children. The family was among those who said their father was simply following orders and asked him to walk away from an online class and head to the square outside the government palace. Silva said her husband then surrendered.

“How are we going to feed our family? asked Daniela, who spoke on condition that she not be identified by her last name due to the threats.

“My son is not a bad guy,” she said. “He is just a subordinate. He safeguarded his wealth and they took advantage of him.

Families and lawyers of the defendants interviewed by the AP were able to share few details about the cases and their family members' legal arguments because they were in the midst of legal proceedings, but most said they were seeking “justice” for those detained.

Others, like Nubia Barbery, said her husband, Colonel Raul Barbery Muiba, was tasked by Zuñiga to conduct a “military exercise.” Upon entering the square, Barbery said he had left, telling Zuñiga he had been “deceived”, calling him shortly after.

The families' claims add another layer of confusion to the doubts already sown by Zuñiga on Wednesday night about the veracity of the coup.

During his quick arrest, he claimed, without providing evidence, that Arce had ordered him to lead the rebellion, prompting the political opposition to label the case a “self-coup.”

Zuñiga claimed the buyout was just a ruse to shore up Arce's waning popularity as he struggles to manage a spiral economydeepening political divisions and fueling public discontent. Arce vigorously denied the accusations Thursday. He told AP that Bolivia was not in an economic crisis and that the government was “taking steps” to address the economic hardships facing the Bolivian people.

The embattled president is in the running Arce said his government had been “politically attacked” by Morales, preventing his government from dealing with economic turmoil.

Escalating political tensions have left Bolivians disillusioned and confused about what really happened during those chaotic three hours Wednesday, when armored vehicles rolled into downtown La Paz and Arce confronted the coup leaders face to face and ordered them to back down.

It remains unclear whether Zuñiga's allegations about Arce are true or whether the disgruntled general has simply sought to exploit Bolivia's growing crises for his own gain.

Yet many, like Cintia Ramos, were outraged by Wednesday's chaos.

“Zúñiga must pay the highest penalty for attacking the Bolivian people,” said Cintia Ramos, 31, one of the protesters at the prison.

Families can claim their loved ones are innocent, but Ramos said “it couldn't be one person's doing.” This person had allies, high-level allies. … They should also pay the highest penalty.”

On Friday morning, police were able to see Zúñiga walking handcuffed through the prison.

Shortly before, his wife, Graciela Arzacibia, waited with downcast eyes for the general to leave the police station. A small bag of snacks in her hand, she expressed her concern for her 6-year-old son, who thought his imprisoned father had simply gone to work.

“I ask them to take families into account,” she told the AP. “We didn’t do anything. »