Bolivia coup: Army chief arrested after rebellion as president urges people to take to the streets
Commander Juan Jose Zuniga detained on suspicion of terrorism after armed uprising in La Paz as President Luis Arce replaces military chiefs and thanks public for support
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A senior Bolivian general was arrested after armoured vehicles rammed the doors of the government palace in La Paz on Wednesay in what President Luis Arce called an attempted coup.
Forces led by army chief General Juan Jose Zuniga appeared to take control of Mr Arce’s government as they vowed to “restore democracy” but the president vowed to hold firm and swiftly named a new military commander, who immediately ordered the troops to stand down.
The soldiers duly pulled back, along with a line of military vehicles, ending the rebellion after three chaotic hours, as hundreds of Mr Arce’s supporters rushed the square outside the palace, waving Bolivian flags, singing the national anthem and cheering.
Government minister Eduardo del Castillo said former Vice Admiral Juan Arnez Salvador was also taken into custody.
“What was this group’s goal? The goal was to overturn the democratically elected authority,” Mr del Castillo told journalists in announcing the arrests.
The apparent coup attempt came after the South American nation of 12m people faced months of tensions between Mr Arce and his one-time ally, former leftist president Evo Morales, over control of the ruling party.
It also came amid a severe economic crisis.
New head of army orders troops back to bases
“I order all that are mobilized to return to their units, said the newly named army chief José Wilson Sánchez, per the Associated Press. “No one wants the images we’re seeing in the streets.”
The outlet reported that soon after the troops near the palace began to withdraw.
Bolivian president thanks supporters after failed coup
Arce addressed supporters who gathered outside the governmental palace, after the failed coup attempt on Wednesday.
“Many thanks to the Bolivian people. ... Long live democracy,” Arce said, according to AP.
Chile condemns failed military coup
Chile’s president Gabriel Boric told reporters he had “immediately” contacted the Bolivian president to offer his “solidarity”.
“We condemn this coup attempt. We call for institutions to function, for the constitution and the laws to be respected,” he said. “We hope that no one is injured and that the legitimate government of President Luis Arce remains in place and can continue with the mandate that the Bolivian people have voted for.”
Scenes from La Paz as military coup fails
President’s supporters celebrate failed military coup
Bolivian VP says country will not allow another coup
“Never again will the Bolivian people allow coups d’etat,” Vice President David Choquehuanca told supporters who gathered outside the government palace after the failed military coup.
Bolivia’s president urged citizens to take to the streets
Bolivia’s president Luis Arce said in a video message on Wednesday: “We need the Bolivian people to mobilise and organise themselves against this coup d’état and in favour of democracy.”
He declared: “We cannot allow, once again, attempted coups to claim Bolivian lives.”
The ministers surrounding the president chanted: “Long live the people of Bolivia! Long live democracy! Long live our president, Luis Arce!”
Bolivian president Arce thwarts coup attempt as armed forces withdraw from palace
Bolivian armed forces withdrew from the presidential palace in La Paz after president Luis Arce denounced an attempted coup led by General Juan Jose Zuniga, who had recently been stripped of his command.
Mr Arce called for public and international support to defend democracy.
Gen Zuniga’s troops had earlier stormed the palace but retreated after Arce reinstated control and swore in a new military commander, Reuters reported.
The US and regional leaders condemned the coup attempt, while ex-president Evo Morales mobilized his supporters to defend the government.
The political tension arises ahead of the 2025 general elections, with Morales planning to run against Arce.
EU President Ursula von der Leyen condemns failed coup
I firmly condemn the attempts to overthrow the democratically elected government of Bolivia.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) June 26, 2024
The European Union stands by democracies.
We express our strong support for the constitutional order and rule of law in Bolivia.
Army commander who led the coup attempt detained
Recently sacked army commander Gen Juan Jose Zuniga was detained on suspicion of terrorism and armed uprising, the Guardian reported.
On Wednesday, he led military units into Plaza Murillo in La Paz, where they stormed the presidential palace, with an armoured vehicle ramming a door and soldiers rushing inside.
By late afternoon, President Luis Arce had named Jose Wilson Sanchez Velasquez as the new military commander, who then called on the soldiers to return to their barracks and avoid bloodshed.
Meanwhile, Gen Zuniga was apprehended at the entrance to the general staff headquarters in La Paz and was seen being driven away in a white police pickup truck.
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