Bolivia arrests several high-ranking military and intelligence officials after failed coup

CNN
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Bolivia has arrested more than a dozen senior military and intelligence officials after a failed coup attempt to overthrow the country’s president in a coup allegedly led by the former army chief.

Military representatives had already met in May to plan the coup attempt for Wednesday. As part of the coup attempt, armed forces were to march into the capital’s main square and take power “by force,” according to a report from the Bolivian government to CNN.

The meetings were led by former army chief General Juan Jose Zúñiga and former naval commander General Juan Arnez. The report claims that Zúñiga’s personal civilian adviser devised the coup’s “strategy.”

All three men are among 17 people arrested so far in connection with Wednesday’s events – most of them military personnel, the report said. Other high-ranking officials arrested include the head of military intelligence, Julio Buitrago.

The coup attempt, which was condemned by the Bolivian government and international politicians, came at a time when the South American country of around 12 million people is struggling with an economic crisis and political instability that has led to mass protests in the streets.

On Wednesday, military units led by Zúñiga – who had been dismissed as commander of the Bolivian army just a day earlier – occupied La Paz’s main Plaza Murillo, while armored vehicles rammed the gate to the presidential palace and soldiers tried to enter government buildings.

Hours later, President Luis Arce – who had called on the public to “organize and mobilize” in defense of democracy – could be seen confronting Zúñiga in the crowded hallway of the palace and ordering the general to withdraw his soldiers and retreat.

Arce, who has been in power since 2020, later declared victory to the crowd outside Quemado Palace after Zúñiga was handcuffed and dragged into a police car.

After the coup attempt, Bolivia’s Defense Minister Edmundo Novillo said at a press conference that the government had regained “total and absolute control” over its military. “We call on the population to return everything to normal,” he said.

When he was arrested, Zúñiga claimed – without providing any evidence – that he had acted on Arce’s orders.

Arce denied the former army chief’s allegations on Thursday and told reporters the coup attempt had surprised him.

Meanwhile, Novillo told CNN that Zúñiga was trying to “drag the president through the mud.”

Bolivia, which has experienced nearly 40 attempted coups or successful coups since 1946, is suffering from dwindling foreign currency reserves, particularly the U.S. dollar, as well as shortages of fuel and other essentials. Tensions have also risen as leftist former President Evo Morales seeks to challenge his former ally Arce in next year’s parliamentary elections.

The investigation into Wednesday’s events will continue until all “participants” in the coup have been identified, the Bolivian government report said.

It also states that the country’s air force commander was involved in planning the failed coup. However, no one who fits this description appears on the list of arrests.

CNN has asked the government for clarification and whether those arrested have legal representation.