3 commanders who 'attempted a coup' in Bolivia arrested

Following the coup attempt in Bolivia, it has been announced that former General Jose Zuniga and 2 commanders, who were detained on charges of "attempting a coup" against the government of President Luis Arce, have been sent to prison.

According to reports in the national press, the court sentenced Zuniga and the 2 commanders, who are being tried for attempting a coup against the Arce government, to 6 months of preventive detention.

The coup-plotting commanders were sent to Chonchocoro Maximum Security Prison, located in the mountainous region near the administrative capital, La Paz.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Eduardo del Castillo held a press conference and announced that 4 more soldiers had been detained for participating in the coup attempt, bringing the total number to 21.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Bolivian President Arce stated on June 26 that some military units in the country had been mobilized irregularly and called on the army to respect democracy.

Footage reflected on social media showed a military armored vehicle attempting to force its way into the government palace in the administrative capital, La Paz.

Citizens who reacted to the soldiers were intervened with tear gas and pressurized water.

Arce spoke face-to-face with the former commander Jose Zuniga, who was trying to force his way into the government palace, and demanded that the soldiers withdraw immediately.

Addressing the nation, Arce called on the public to remain calm. Following Arce's call, thousands of people took to the squares and protested the military coup attempt.

Upon the order of the newly appointed commander of the Bolivian army, Jose Wilson Sanchez, the soldiers who attempted the coup returned to their units.

Former commander Zuniga, who attempted the coup against the Arce government, was detained upon the request of the Prosecutor General's Office.