La Paz (EFE).- Dismissed former Army commander Juan José Zuñiga and two other soldiers were transferred this Saturday to the maximum security prison of Chonchocoro, to serve preventive detention for the “attempted coup” in Bolivia against the government of President Luis Arce.
The Police carried out a strong police operation from midday this Saturday in the Special Force to Fight Crime (Felcc), in the center of La Paz, and 22 minutes later Zuñiga was taken out of the cells handcuffed and with two guards.
Before Zuñiga was released, the other two detained soldiers, Juan Arnez and Edison Irahola, were also sent to preventive detention.
Zuñiga, accused of attempted coup d’état in Bolivia
The three were loaded into Bolivian Police vehicles and at least seven more vehicles were behind them. The convoy has to reach the plateau of La Paz, where the Chonchocoro penitentiary center is located, about two hours from the center of La Paz.
The courts on Friday ruled that the dismissed Army commander-in-chief Zuñiga and two other military officers should be sent to preventive detention for six months, accused of carrying out an “attempted coup d’état.” The three were charged with armed uprising and terrorism.
The Minister of Government (Interior), Eduardo del Castillo, and other government and police authorities arrived at the Felcc this Saturday to witness Zuñiga’s transfer. When the dismissed former commander was leaving in handcuffs, Del Castillo watched him from the first floor of the police station.
He sought to “restore” democracy
Last Wednesday, Zuñiga led a military action with which, he said, he sought to “change the Government Cabinet” and “reestablish” democracy in Bolivia.
After arriving in a tank at the presidential palace, he had a face to face with President Arce, who ordered him to retreat and withdraw the tanks and the soldiers who supported him in the military invasion. After a few hours he was captured at the Army General Staff.
In addition to Zuñiga, Arnez and Irahola, 14 other military personnel were arrested for participating in the “attempted coup.” They remain in a preliminary hearing this Saturday.
