Bolivian general, other suspected leaders of failed coup get six months pre-trial detention

Three leaders, including the former Bolivian general, who have been accused of leading the failed coup against Bolivian President Luis Arce were remanded in custody, on Friday (Jun 28), said the country’s top prosecutor. According to Arce, the detained former Bolivian general Juan Jose Zuniga had planned to “take over” the government and become the president if the coup was successful.  

In addition to the former army chief, ex-head of navy Juan Arnez and Alejandro Irahola, former head of the army’s mechanised brigade will also be held in a high-security prison near the city of La Paz, reported AFP. 

State Attorney General Cesar Siles said that the AG’s office had requested the six-month detention, a move which was supported by other government bodies, including the country’s defence ministry and interior ministry “due to the importance and seriousness of the events that occurred.” 

“This pre-trial detention ordered by the judge will undoubtedly set a precedent, and is a good signal for the investigation to move forward,” said Siles on state television, as quoted by AFP. 

The former military officers face charges of engaging in an armed uprising and terrorism and face up to 20 years in prison. 

According to Siles, Zuniga has been handed a terrorism charge, which carries 15 to 20 years in prison as well as a charge for an armed uprising, which carries a sentence of 5-15 years.

A total of 21 active, retired and civilian military personnel were arrested in connection with the attempted coup, on Wednesday (Jun 26) which saw the deployment of troops and tanks in the heart of the capital as they tried to break down a door of the presidential palace. 

In an interview with the Associated Press, the embattled Bolivian president spoke about the former general’s plans to “take over” and become the country’s leader had he been successful in his attempted coup. 

He denied that the attack on Wednesday was a “self-coup” designed to garner him political points. “I didn’t escape. I stayed to defend democracy,” Arce told AP. 

This comes after Zuniga claimed he was following the Bolivian president’s orders and that Arce had hoped for the coup to trigger a crackdown which would boost his popularity. 

Arce also told news agency AP that his government was already being “politically attacked” by his one-time ally turned rival, former President Evo Morales and that the infighting had affected legislative activities and hamstrung his government in confronting economic problems.

In recent weeks, the Andean nation has witnessed a rise in tensions over surging prices, shortages of dollars and fuel, and a feud between Arce and Morales ahead of the 2025 election.

The incumbent president told AP that his government “has taken action” to address intermittent gasoline, dollar shortages, and other issues that the country’s economy faces, but denied that the Andean nation was in the midst of an economic crisis.

Arce also said that the government was investigating if the attack was organised by the country’s political opposition.

(With inputs from agencies)