2024-07-19 15:21:30
The Army reached the gates of the Quemado Palace and forced its way in, led by General Juan José Zúñiga.
Luis Arce, President of Bolivia, denounced this Wednesday the “irregular mobilization” of Army units, those who were stationed in the vicinity of the Government Palace, pointing to an attempted coup d’état.
Through his social networks, the president stressed that “we denounce irregular mobilizations of some units of the Bolivian Army. Democracy must be respected.”
According to ABI, Military tanks were stationed in Plaza Murillo, the so-called political center of Boliviasince the Executive and Legislative branches are based in this sector.
Evo Morales went further and called for a national mobilization “to defend democracy against the coup d’état being planned by General (Juan José) Zuñiga.”
“We will not allow the Armed Forces to violate democracy and intimidate the people,” the former president added.
Morales joined Minister of the Presidency, María Nela Prada, who accused “an attempted coup d’état here in the Plurinational State of Bolivia.”
Government accuses coup and military arrives at the Palacio Quemado
The Secretary of State explained that it is “a faction of the Army that has mobilized, that has removed the people who were in Plaza Murillo and that at this moment is not allowing the entry of other people.”
“They have taken over the four corners of the entrance to Plaza Murillo. There are also troops on the four corners, there are troops inside Plaza Murillo and there are troops in front of the Government Palace. This is what is happening right now from the Casa Grande del Pueblo,” he argued.
In the midst of this situation, Army Commander General Juan José Zúñiga descended from one of the tanks that was located in front of the historic Palacio Quemado.
“Today the Bolivian Army, Air Force and Navy are mobilized, they are in a state of emergency, they are in barracks,” he said, before forcing their way into the building.