The President of Bolivia, Luis Arce, denied being behind Wednesday’s alleged coup attempt, rejecting accusations that he had requested military intervention to increase his popularity.
“I am not a politician who will gain popularity through the blood of the people,” Arce said on Thursday, in his first appearance before the press since the apparent failed coup.
The official added that 14 people were injured by the coup plotters and that some had to undergo surgery. “We saw people mobilizing without weapons and they were shot,” Arce said.
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Hours earlier, the Bolivian Government had announced the arrest of 17 people for alleged involvement in the attempted coup d’état that shook the South American country in the grip of a serious economic crisis on Wednesday.
The Army general who led the attempt, Juan José Zúñiga, and an alleged co-conspirator, former Navy vice-admiral Juan Arnez Salvador, were detained.
The Bolivian Interior Minister, Eduardo del Castillo, did not provide details about the other 15 people detained, only indicating that one of them is a civilian identified as Aníbal Aguilar Gómez, whom he referred to as the mastermind of the frustrated coup.
Luis Arce stated that not only military personnel were involved in the plan, but also people from civil society and others already retired from military service, without revealing further details. Zúñiga will be investigated and “will face justice”, he added.
The President said he believed that the attempted coup d’état was due to his dismissal of Zúñiga, on Tuesday, for having “violated the political constitution of the State” with statements in an interview that did not was authorized to grant.
“Zuíiga went through the media without any order and made unfortunate statements”, highlighted Arce, repeating that this was the reason for his dismissal.
In this interview, Zuíiga threatened to arrest the former President of Bolivia Evo Morales (2006-2019) if he tried to run for president again because he was disqualified, according to the military officer.
Upon being detained on Wednesday, Zuíiga accused Arce of having ordered the military operation.
“On Sunday, at La Salle school, I met with President [Luis Arce] and the President told me that the situation is very complicated, that this week would be critical and that ‘something is necessary to increase my popularity'”, said Zuíiga upon being detained.
The commander said he asked the President of Bolivia if he should “remove the armored vehicles” from the barracks and that Arce responded: “Take them out.”
The nation of 12 million inhabitants watched, in shock and perplexity, at the apparent uprising of the military, who took control of the capital’s main square with armored vehicles, attempted to break into a from the gates of the presidential palace and threw tear gas at protesters.
