The coup attempt in Bolivia

The Bolivian military gathered at the government building in Bolivia’s de-facto capital city of La Paz, and the former Army Commander Juan Jose Zuniga announced that he intends to “take the Homeland back.” President of Bolivia Luiz Arce announced “strange moves of certain Army units” and called to honour democracy.

The square in front of the government building in La Paz has been occupied by the military. Army units break into the building, according to the Telesur TV channel. An armoured vehicles reportedly entered the presidential palace territory. Staff of government and parliament buildings has been evacuated.

 Bolivian General Zuniga, dismissed from the position of an Army Commander, announced that he intends to “take the Homeland back. Zuniga was dismissed after he announced his readiness to arrest ex-President Evo Morales. Morales accused Zuniga of a coup attempt. He called for a “civil mobilization for protection of democracy” and announced a strike and road blocking

The Foreign Ministry of Bolivia called on the international community to support the legitimate government of President Luiz Arce. President of Honduras Xiomara Castro announced that she convenes an emergency meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel called the coup attempt outrageous and expressed his solidarity with Arce. President of Mexico Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador condemned the coup attempt and stated total support to the incumbent president of the republic.

Bolivian President Luis Arce has called on the country’s citizens to defend democracy and described the unfolding events as a coup. “It is vital that people of Bolivia get consolidated and stand up against the state coup for the sake of democracy,” he said in an address to the nation.

The latest report say that new commander of Bolivia’s army, Jose Wilson Sanchez, has ordered the military staying on the square in front of the government building to return to their barracks.

“As the army commander-in-chief and on behalf of the commanders of the three army branches, I order all servicemen staying in the streets to return to their bases,” he said during the oath taking ceremony, which was aired live by Bolivia TV.

Shortly after, the television channel showed the military leaving the square in front of the government building.

Brazil, Venezuela, Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, Mexico, Cuba, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Chile condemned the attempted coup.