Bolivia - Three ex-generals in custody after coup attempt
After the failed coup attempt in Bolivia, a judge ordered three former generals to be detained for six months for investigation. This decision was reportedly granted in response to a request from the Public Prosecutor's Office, according to several media outlets on Friday (local time). "The judge's decision will certainly set a precedent and is a good sign that the investigations can continue," said Prosecutor César Siles. The Public Prosecutor's accusation is for terrorism and armed insurrection against the state's security and sovereignty.
The former commanders of the Army, Juan José Zuñiga Macías, and of the Navy, Juan Arnez Salvador, as well as another ex-General, Edison Alejandro Irahola Caero, face potential sentences of 20 years in prison.
On Wednesday in La Paz, a coup attempt failed. Disloyal military personnel seized the central square with armored vehicles and advanced on the government palace. President Luis Arce replaced the entire military leadership. The new heads of the military branches then ordered the troops to withdraw.
A total of 21 military personnel were arrested following the coup attempt, as Interior Minister Eduardo del Castillo stated during a press conference on Friday. Among those arrested were "key figures," including the driver of the tank that destroyed the government palace door, del Castillo added.
The military personnel involved in the coup attempt in Bolivia are currently under pre-trial detention, following the orders of a government-appointed judge. This move is seen as a significant step in addressing the terrorism and armed insurrection charges levied against them by the Public Prosecutor's Office.
The failure of the coup attempt in La Paz has resulted in the government's withdrawal of support for military leaders associated with the insurgency, leading to potential 20-year prison sentences for former Generals Zuñiga Macías, Arnez Salvador, and Irahola Caero.
The Bolivian government's response to the coup attempt, which involved replacing the entire military leadership and subsequent detention of key figures, signifies a commitment to restoring peace and stability after conflicts.
The military, under new leadership, played a crucial role in quelling the coup attempt in La Paz by withdrawing their support from those involved in terroristic activities, thereby upholding the state's security and sovereignty.
