Bolivian police arrest 2 army leaders following failed coup attempt
Date
6/27/2024 9:20:21 AM
(MENAFN) A tumultuous day unfolded in Bolivia as 2 senior army leaders were arrested following a brief but intense uprising characterized by soldiers and tanks positioning themselves in front of crucial government buildings. The incident, centered at Plaza Murillo in La Paz, where the presidential palace and congress reside, sparked international condemnation and raised concerns about the country's Democratic stability.
The dramatic events saw General Juan Jose Zuniga, who had been dismissed from his post, leading soldiers and tanks into Plaza Murillo, with one tank attempting to breach the presidential palace's defenses. Zuniga, surrounded by troops and armored vehicles, asserted a mission to reform Bolivia's democracy away from decades-long control by a few individuals.
After a tense standoff lasting about five hours, the military presence withdrew from the square. Zuniga was subsequently captured and forcefully detained by authorities as he addressed reporters outside a military barracks, an event broadcasted on state television. Deputy Interior Minister Jhonny Aguilera formally announced Zuniga's arrest, underscoring the government's swift response to quell the coup attempt.
Later that night, a second high-ranking military officer, Juan Arnez Salvador, former head of the Bolivian navy, was also arrested. Interior Minister Eduardo del Castillo condemned both Zuniga and Arnez as architects of a failed coup aimed at destabilizing Bolivia's democracy and institutional framework.
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