La Paz: Bolivian President Luis Arce on Wednesday condemned an attempted “riot” after soldiers and tanks were stationed outside the government building and tried to knock on the door of the presidential palace.
An AFP reporter saw soldiers and tanks enter Plaza Murillo, the historic square where the president and Congress sit. One of the tanks tried to break the iron door of the presidential palace.
Speaking outside the presidential palace surrounded by soldiers and eight tanks, Army General Juan Jose Zuniga confirmed his rebellion against the government.
“The liberal forces want to restructure democracy, make it a real democracy and not be ruled by the same people for 30, 40 years,” he said.
Moments later, AFP reporters saw soldiers and tanks retreating from the field.
Arce called on the Bolivian people to “organize and work for democracy against the coup” in a televised address to the country, accompanied by ministers inside the presidential palace.
Former President Evo Morales wrote in X that “the coup has begun” and called for a “national mobilization to defend democracy.”
Rumors swirled Tuesday that Zuniga would be fired.
Morales, Bolivia’s first indigenous president, will be arrested if he does not seek re-election in 2025, a military official said on television Monday.
Bolivia has experienced several periods of political instability in recent years.
Morales was so popular that he broke the constitution and sought a fourth term in 2019.
The leftist and former coca union leader won the vote, but was forced to resign and flee the country amid allegations of election fraud.
Enemy allies Luis Arce returned after being elected president in October 2020.
In January, Morales’ supporters staged a several-day blockade to protest his removal.
The leaders of Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela condemned the military action from all over Latin America and called for respect for democracy.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wrote in X: “I love democracy and I want it to apply throughout Latin America. We condemn all forms of coups in Bolivia.”
In a message to X on Wednesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for “respect for democracy and the rule of law.”
The Organization of American States (OAS) also condemned the military action.
“International community, the General Secretariat of the OAS will not allow the violation of constitutional law in Bolivia or elsewhere,” said Secretary General Luis Almagro.
