Tension at its highest in Bolivia due to irregular military activities after the dismissal of the army chief

Bolivian President Luis Arce denounced this Wednesday that “irregular mobilizations of some units of the Bolivian Army” are taking place. Former President Evo Morales warned that “a coup is being prepared” and placed behind him the head of the army, Juan José Zúñiga, whom he dismissed on Tuesday after warning that he would not allow a new government by the leader of the Movement Towards Socialism. Military personnel have occupied the Palacio Quemado, the seat of government, by breaking down the doors with an armored car. The whereabouts of President Arce and his ministers are unknown, who were supposed to meet in the Casa Grande del Pueblo, the building next to the Palacio Quemado.

General Juan José Zúñiga announced to the press in Plaza Murillo, in front of the Quemado Palace, the headquarters of the executive branch, that the “mobilization of all military units” was to express their annoyance “at the situation of the country.” Enough already. “This cannot be disloyalty,” he said. He also said that he would continue to obey President Luis Arce “for the time being,” but that he would take steps to “change the government cabinet.”

In a video uploaded to social networks, Minister of the Presidency Marianela Prada also condemned the “coup attempt” but limited it to “a faction of the military”. “I am in the Big House of the People. Plaza Murillo has been taken over by a faction of the military, which has mobilized and taken people out of the plaza and occupied the four corners,” she said.

The Minister of Public Works, Edgar Montano, explained that this is a protest of the army command and that the government is going to defend democracy. For his part, Deputy Minister Jorge Silva said that the entire Arce Cabinet is located in the State House. “We call for the defense of democracy.”

In Murillo Square the military fired tear gas and pellets against a group of civilians who were shouting “I fight, you are not alone.” There are many calls for the public to come out and reject the ongoing military coup.

Remy Ferreira, former defense minister in the Evo Morales government, has tried to bring some peace of mind. He denied that it was a coup, because, he said, “the military units are calm.” “I don’t think it’s a coup. It’s an arrogant act by Zuniga. It’s a threat to democracy, but it’s a futureless movement and will not succeed. It should be taken as an example.”

Zuniga lost his position on Tuesday after a series of threats against Morales. “He can no longer be president of this country. If necessary,” he said, “I will not allow you to trample on the constitution, to disobey the mandate of the people.” In a high voice, he added that the armed forces are the “armed arm of the people, the armed arm of the country.”

The crisis has been fueled by long-standing attacks between the former president and current president Luis Arce, who were once allies and are now enemies. Arce explained in speeches before various state security forces, such as the Presidential Escort Regiment and the Bolivian Police, that a “soft coup” is underway to shorten his mandate, for which he has indirectly blamed Morales. “Behind the apparently legitimate demands, there is in fact a plan to shorten terms, which hides a greater danger: the destruction of the Plurinational State, the socioeconomic model of our productive community and the dreams of Bolivian men and women,” said the president, former Economy Minister during the Morales government.

Meanwhile, the country is struggling with an economic crisis, with shortages of the dollar and fuel. There are also declarations of social protests that the government considers led by “avismo”, which the sectors involved deny. The Legislative Assembly, which today is majority opposition, has been paralyzed by the intervention of the judicial branch and the suspension of its sessions by its president, David Choquehuanca, who is also vice president.

News in development.

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