Bolivian Police Detain Coup Leader Following Military Uprising
In a dramatic turn of events, Bolivian police apprehended the mastermind behind a recent coup attempt, mere hours after soldiers stormed the presidential palace in La Paz. Armored vehicles and troops initially occupied Murillo Square, home to key government buildings, but later retreated.
General Juan José Zúñiga, the rebel military leader, had declared his intention to “restructure democracy” and hinted at a potential change in government, though he temporarily expressed respect for President Luis Arce. His arrest followed swiftly.
President Arce denounced the coup attempt, urging citizens to “organize and mobilize… in favor of democracy.” In a televised address from the presidential palace, he stated, “We cannot allow once again coup attempts to take Bolivian lives.” His call to action resonated, prompting pro-democracy supporters to rally in the streets.
In response to the crisis, President Arce appointed new military commanders, confirming General Zúñiga’s dismissal after the latter criticized Bolivia’s former leader, Evo Morales. Morales also condemned the coup attempt, demanding criminal charges against General Zúñiga and his collaborators. The public prosecutor’s office has since launched a criminal investigation.
This failed military uprising appears to be an isolated incident rather than a broader power struggle. However, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether this event was a solitary outburst or a sign of deeper unrest. The government now appears more vulnerable, potentially inviting political challenges rather than military ones.
Former President Morales, a significant figure in Bolivia’s political landscape, called on his supporters, particularly from the indigenous coca-growers movement, to protest against the coup attempt. This show of popular support likely bolstered resistance to General Zúñiga’s plans, which included the release of “political prisoners” such as former leader Jeanine Áñez.
General Zúñiga, speaking from Murillo Square before his arrest, declared, “We are going to recover this homeland. An elite has taken over the country, vandals who have destroyed the country.” His dismissal followed a televised appearance where he threatened to arrest Morales if he ran for office again next year, despite Morales being barred from doing so.
Although President Arce and Morales have had their differences recently, they stood united in condemning the use of military force for political change. Morales himself was ousted by military leaders in 2019, leading to his exile in Mexico.
Evo Morales’ presidency, which began in 2005, brought stability to Bolivia, once one of the most politically volatile nations in the Americas. However, his tenure ended tumultuously. President Arce, elected after the instability of the 2019 election, likely found reassurance in the swift regional condemnation of the coup attempt. Left-wing governments in Venezuela and Colombia, along with the U.S., quickly called for the preservation of democracy.
Even Bolivians who oppose Arce’s socialist policies generally reject a return to the era when military coups with severe human rights violations toppled democratically elected leaders.
