MADRID (EUROPA PRESS).- Former Bolivian President Evo Morales said on Sunday that the current president, Luis Arce, has “deceived” and “lied” to both the country’s population and the rest of the world regarding the attempted coup d’état last Wednesday, thus ending up joining his supporters within the governing Movement Towards Socialism (MAS), who launched these accusations the same night of the coup.
“President Luis Arce deceived and lied to the Bolivian people and the world. It is regrettable that such a sensitive topic as the denunciation of a coup is used. Faced with this reality, I must apologize to the international community for the alarm generated and thank them for their solidarity with our country,” he posted on his social media account X.
He also stressed the importance of a “complete and independent” investigation that “demonstrates the truth” of the events that have already resulted in the arrest of more than twenty people, although the authorities claim that 34 people have been identified as accomplices.
President Luis Arce deceived and lied to the Bolivian people and the world. It is regrettable that such a sensitive topic as denouncing a coup is used.
Faced with this reality, I must apologize to the international community for the alarm generated and thank them for their solidarity with…
— Evo Morales Ayma (@evoespueblo) June 30, 2024
Shortly afterwards, Arce himself asked his rival within the party “not to make a mistake” and not to “side with fascism that denies what happened.”
“Evo Morales, don’t be wrong once again! Clearly what happened on June 26 was a failed military coup in Bolivia. Don’t side with fascism that denies what happened!” he also responded on X.
He insisted that the military “sought to seize power by force of arms,” which is why they are “being prosecuted and will be judged,” citing the procedure with “the 2019 coup plotters” as an example.
Evo Morales, do not be mistaken once again! Clearly what happened on June 26 was a #FailedMilitaryCoup in #Bolivia. Do not side with fascism that denies what happened! Those responsible who sought to seize power by force of arms are being prosecuted and will be… pic.twitter.com/a64IOXZ4nt
— Luis Alberto Arce Catacora (Lucho Arce) (@LuchoXBolivia) June 30, 2024
Zúñiga, the leader of the coup attempt, had planned to form a cabinet: Del Castillo
For his part, the Minister of Government, Eduardo del Castillo, revealed that General Juan José Zúñiga, leader of the coup attempt, had planned to form a cabinet and call elections three months after taking power, and that he failed after several military officers involved in the action rebelled following an order to shoot at civilians protesting against him.
“Mr. Zúñiga had even given instructions to shoot at people who were in the vicinity of the Palacio Quemado and the Casa Grande del Pueblo. The commander of the Eighth Division, according to some findings, told him that he was not going to obey that order and Zúñiga threatened to remove him from his post. And that commander told him ‘what else is missing? What else can we do? Shoot at the people? Everything we’ve done is already wrong,’” he revealed.
The coup, which left 14 people injured by projectiles, was planned since last May with Aníbal Aguilar, brother of a former education minister, as its “ideologist,” according to the ABI news agency.
In just three hours, the Bolivian government put down the attempted coup led by General Juan José Zúñiga, who, together with army units, had taken over Murillo Square in La Paz, the centre of political power in the country, to prevent Morales from running in the elections and had even assured that a new cabinet would be formed “soon”.
The authorities have already managed to arrest 21 people, including General Juan José Zúñiga and Vice Admiral Juan Arnez Salvador, the two most visible faces of the mutiny, and who have been accused of terrorism and armed uprising against the security and sovereignty of the State.
#Evo #Morales #Arce #deceived #lied #coup #attempt #Bolivia
2024-07-02 05:19:09