Military and intelligence officials arrested in Bolivia following coup attempt

Nearly 20 military and intelligence officers have been arrested in Bolivia, less than a week after a former military commander led a failed coup against the government of President Luis Arce (pictured). Several military units stormed the Casa Grande, the presidential palace in the Bolivian capital La Paz. An armoured vehicle was used to break down the main gate of the palace, allowing soldiers to enter the building. However, the soldiers were later seen withdrawing from the square in front of the Casa Grande, and police regained control.

Within hours, Bolivian forces loyal to President Arce had arrested the alleged coup leader, General Juan José Zúñiga. Arce had appointed Zúñiga as the commander-general of the Bolivian armed forces in 2022. Bolivian Navy Commander Juan Arnez Salvador was also reportedly arrested, along with more than a dozen other military and intelligence officers. According to reports, more than 200 military and intelligence personnel participated in the failed coup, including high-ranking officers. A press release issued by the Bolivian government on Saturday said the investigation into the coup would continue until all participants in the coup are identified.

President Arce has denied Zúñiga’s claims that he was secretly asked to create instability in the country in order to incite the Bolivian population to rally to the government. At a press conference in La Paz on Thursday, the president denied any involvement in planning the coup or any prior knowledge of it. Earlier in the day, Bolivian Interior Minister Eduardo del Castillo said in a radio interview that his ministry had received intelligence about possible attempts to destabilize the government. However, at his press conference, President Arce denied the existence of intelligence reports warning of a coup: “We were never informed of this project.” [Zúñiga’s] reports […]”We were surprised,” he said.

Arce, a 60-year-old former economy minister, became president in 2020. The 2020 elections followed a period of widespread political unrest in Bolivia, which led to the forced resignation of then-President Evo Morales . Arce's rise to power facilitated Morales' return to Bolivia after a period of exile. However, Morales and Arce, who were once close political allies, fell out after Morales returned to Bolivia. They now lead rival factions of the once-unified Movement Towards Socialism (MAS).

The United States, China and Russia, which compete for influence and access to resources in Bolivia, have remained largely silent since the coup. The Arce government has aroused discontent in Washington by signing agreements with Chinese and Russian companies to exploit lithium reserves, abundant in Bolivia. Lithium is essential for the production of batteries for laptops, cell phones and other electronic devices, as well as electric vehicles.

► Author: Joseph Fitsanakis | Date: July 01, 2024 | Permalink