The Bolivian Attorney General, Cesar Silesstated that the preventive detention ordered against the dismissed former commander Juan José Zúñiga and two other soldiers is a “preceding“so that the investigation into the “attempted coup” can move forward.
“This preventive detention that the judge is ordering will undoubtedly set a precedent. and a good sign so that this investigation can continue to advance,” the prosecutor told the state television channel.
Zúñiga and two other soldiers were sent this Friday to preventive detention for six months, accused of executing a “Coup attempt“against the Government of the Bolivian president, Luis Arce.
The Bolivian prosecutor said that he was present at the preliminary hearing and that the Prosecutor’s Office proved before the judge “the probability of authorship” of the crimes of terrorism and armed uprising.
In addition, the risk of flight and obstruction of the proceedings was established for the three former military personnel, facts that the court took into account when deciding on preventive detention.
On Wednesday, Zúñiga led a military action that he said was intended to “change the government cabinet” and “restore” 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.
Until this Friday they had been arrested 21 active, retired and civilian military personnelfor the coup attempt last Wednesday, when troops with tanks besieged the presidential headquarters for several hours before withdrawing.
There is “a total of 21 people arrested in the case called ‘Failed Coup d’état’‘”, stated earlier the Minister of Government (Interior), Eduardo del Castillo.
In addition to Zúñiga and Arnez, General was also captured Marcelo Zegarraformer head of the Air Force, who will be presented before the judges in the next few hours.
The authorities detained the first two at the end of the military coup, while Zegarra was later arrested when he appeared before the prosecutor’s office with his two lawyers.
The government also highlighted the capture of the sergeant Alan Condoriwho was driving the armored vehicle that attempted to knock down one of the doors of the presidential palace.
From the beginning, General Zúñiga has been identified as the main person responsible for the attempt to overthrow Arce, who has governed since 2020 with the banners of the left.
During the military rebellion, 14 civilians were injured with pellets fired by the soldiers when they entered the square where the presidential palace is located.
Several of those attacked underwent “surgical” surgery, according to the Bolivian president.
“From the beginning we have stated that Juan José Zúñiga has not acted alone, all these people, these 21 people, have not acted unilaterally“, commented Minister Del Castillo.
Amid the progress of investigations and operations, the former Bolivian president Evo Morales This Friday he questioned the government’s version of what happened on Wednesday, despite the fact that he was one of the first to warn about the armed uprising from his account on the social network X.
“So what kind of coup will it be? The coup begins, happy ministers strolling in Plaza Murillo, playing tanks; a coup d’état with zero injuries, zero shots fired, zero deaths,” said Morales at a press conference in the town of Sacaba, Cochabamba department (center).
In the same vein, he disputed the government’s report of 14 people injured by pellets fired by rebel soldiers when they entered the plaza where the presidential palace is located with tanks: “A coup d’état, is it carried out with pellets?”
“Let them investigate, sooner or later the investigation will tell“what happened,” Morales added, surrounded by supporters.
Morales and Arce, who worked together during the three terms of the indigenous leader (2006-2019), are engaged in a fierce dispute over the flags of the ruling party in the face of the 2025 presidential elections.
Despite being disqualified by justice to run again, Morales wants to run for office, while Arce has not yet publicly said whether he will seek re-election.
The Bolivian president revealed on Thursday that he called Morales to warn him about the ongoing coup. “It was clear that they were coming for me, but it was clear to me that later they were going to go after Evo Morales,” Arce commented.
(With information from EFE and AFP)
