THIS is the shocking moment a turncoat Bolivian general is bundled up and arrested on live television following his failed military coup.
Bolivia suffered hours of agony when soldiers led by General Juan José Zúñiga took control of Plaza Murillo, in La Paz, and invaded the government’s presidential palace.
17
17
17
17
His troops managed to invade the Quemado Palace after breaking down the gate with an armored car.
Gen. Zúñiga was removed from his position on Tuesday after making inflammatory comments about former Bolivian president Evo Morales during an interview.
He stated that he would arrest Morales if the former president returned to power.
On Wednesday, Zúñiga’s forces took control of President Luis Arce’s government by promising to “restore democracy.”
But President Arce quickly dismantled the coup attempt and appointed a new army commander who gave the order for the troops to withdraw.
After three hours, the uprising was suppressed when soldiers and a convoy of military vehicles retreated from the center of La Paz.
Hundreds of Arce supporters then gathered in the square in front of the palace, singing the national anthem and waving Bolivian flags.
Dramatic footage showed the demoted Zúñiga speaking to dozens of frantic reporters as he was detained on suspicion of terrorism and armed revolt.
He was later seen handcuffed and paraded by police officers in a veritable walk of shame, while Zúñiga wore a black vest that said “seized.”
What triggered the failed coup in Bolivia?
by Juliana Cruz Lima, Foreign News Reporter
GENERAL Juan José Zuñiga did not explicitly state that his uprising was a military coup.
Instead, he told local television stations that it was an “attempt to restore democracy” in Bolivia and “free political prisoners.”
He told the press that there was a “mobilization of all military units” due to “the situation in the country”.
“We are listening to the people’s outcry. Because an elite has controlled the country for many years”, declared Zúñiga.
“Owners of the State, the vandals are in the various structures of the State, destroying the country.
“The Armed Forces intend to restructure democracy,” continued Zúñiga.
17
17
17
17
17
Moments before his arrest on live TV, the traitorous general claimed that Arce himself told him to storm the palace in a political move.
“The president told me: ‘The situation is very complicated, very critical. It is necessary to prepare something to increase my popularity,’” said Zúñiga, quoting the Bolivian leader.
There was no immediate response from Arce to the accusations.
Bolivian television footage showed Arce confronting Zúñiga in the palace corridor while the coup attempt was taking place.
Arcesa said, “I am your captain, and I order you to withdraw your soldiers, and I will not allow this insubordination.
Surrounded by ministers, he added: “Here we are, standing firm in Casa Grande, to face any coup attempt. We need the Bolivian people to organize.”
After foiling the coup, the Bolivian president made a speech on television surrounded by members of his cabinet.
“We are firm to face any coup attempt,” he said.
“We want to appeal to everyone to defend democracy and we are here with the entire cabinet, with our social organizations.
“We salute you, social organizations, and we cordially invite you to once again show democracy to the Bolivian people.”
17
17
17
17
Arce also appointed new military leaders, including General José Wilson Sánchez, who assumed overall command of the Army.
The Bolivian leader later came out to the presidential balcony and thanked the crowd.
He said: “With you, with the people, we will never give up. No one can take away the democracy that we achieved at the polls and with the blood of the Bolivian people.”
Wednesday’s rebellion followed months of tensions, with economic difficulties and increasingly loud protests, as two political titans, Arce and his former ally, leftist former president Evo Morales, fought for control of the party in power.
Still, the apparent attempt to depose the sitting president appeared to lack any significant support, and even Arce’s rivals closed ranks to defend democracy and repudiate the uprising.
Bolivia, a country of 12 million inhabitants, has seen increasingly intense protests in recent months due to the economy’s precipitous decline, from one of the fastest growing continents two decades ago to one of the hardest hit by the crisis.
Bolivians are no strangers to political unrest, as this week’s unrest marked the country’s 194th coup attempt, an expert said.
Political scientist Maurício Santoro said Globo G1: “Bolivia has 193 coups or attempted coups in its history.
“Today was number 194 and from what we can see it went wrong. I’m glad it went wrong, Bolivian democracy has shown that it has the antibodies to defend itself.”
In 2019, Morales was removed as president following a previous political crisis.
17
17
17
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
