Former Bolivian President: 'The coup is a hoax'

Bolivia's former President Evo Morales spoke about the military coup attempt carried out against the current government of President Luis Arce. Speaking to the media outlet "Kawsachun Coca Radio," Morales claimed that the military coup attempt led by the dismissed former General Jose Zuniga was nothing more than a hoax.

Morales, the leader of the ruling Movement for Socialism (MAS) party, stated that the military uprising, which was characterized as a coup attempt, raised serious doubts in his mind.

Arguing that President Arce was "deceiving the people by shedding crocodile tears," Morales said, "There are a few details here; at the beginning, that is, until Wednesday night, and even Thursday morning, I thought it was a coup, but now I am confused; it looks like he planned a self-coup."

Claiming that the arrested Zuniga would be released within 6 months, Morales stated, "On this occasion, I want to tell the whole world: Lucho (President Arce) lied. He deceived the Bolivian people with his self-coup fabrication."

Bolivian President Arce, in his statement on June 28, reacted to the allegations that he "planned a self-coup" and declared that he categorically rejected the accusations.

Reminding that a military coup attempt led by Zuniga had taken place, Arce stated, "How could this be an instruction or a self-coup plan? He acted on his own initiative."

WHAT HAPPENED?

Bolivian President Arce stated on June 26 that some military units in the country had been mobilized irregularly and asked 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 taken into custody upon the request of the public prosecutor's office.

News Source: AA