Politics After coup attempt in Bolivia: charges against ex-military leaders

Following the failed coup attempt in Bolivia, the Attorney General's Office has filed charges against the entire leadership of the armed forces, according to a media report.

The former commanders of the army, navy and air force are accused of terrorism and armed insurrection against the security and sovereignty of the state, as the newspaper "El Deber" reported on Friday, citing the Attorney General's Office. They face prison sentences of 20 years and a six-month remand in a prison in La Paz has been requested, it said.

The Public Prosecutor General's Office therefore determined that the three defendants Juan José Zúñiga Macías (army), Juan Arnez Salvador (navy) and Marcelo Javier Zegarra (air force) were a flight risk. In addition, she sees the risk that the defendants could destroy, alter, suppress, conceal or falsify evidence.

On Wednesday, a coup d'état failed in La Paz. Renegade military officers had occupied the central square with armored vehicles and forced their way into the government palace. President Luis Arce replaced the entire leadership of the armed forces. The new chiefs of the armed forces then ordered the troops to withdraw.

A total of 21 military officers were arrested following the attempted coup, as Interior Minister Eduardo del Castillo said at a press conference on Friday. Among the "key people" arrested was the driver of the tank used to destroy the door of the government palace, del Castillo said.

SDA