2024-07-03 12:51:00
The government of Bolivia announced the arrest of 17 military and civilians accused of having participated in the failed coup d’état against President Luis Arce.
Fifteen of those arrested for their alleged links to the coup attempt on Wednesday, when troops and tanks besieged the government house for hours, were presented with thehandcuffs, bulletproof vests and guarded by police.
The other two, the general Juan Jose Zuniga and the vice admiral Juan Arnezformer commanders of the Army and the Armadarespectively, identified as leaders of the plan, were arrested on Wednesday.
Both face a sentence of up to 20 years in prison for terrorism and armed uprising, according to the prosecution.
Police, who yesterday reinforced surveillance of the presidential palace, are searching for three more suspects.
Before leading the plot, the former army commander was due to be dismissed. Earlier this week he had threatened to arrest the former president Evo Morales -Arce’s rival, although from the same party- did insist on seeking the presidency in 2025.
On Wednesday, at the moment of greatest tension, a tank tried to knock down one of the doors of the presidential palace, where Arce met with his cabinet.
The president confronted the general Zuniga when he walked through that same door and ordered him to return to the barracks, according to a video released by the presidency.
Zúñiga refused but left the presidential palace minutes later. His troops finally retreated after more than three hours.
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2024-07-03 12:51:00