Bolivia rejects Argentina's accusations of faking coup
3 Min Read
The Bolivian government voices its dissatisfaction with the allegations stemming from Buenos Aires about La Paz faking last week's failed military coup.
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Juan Jose Zuniga, former commanding general of the army, is escorted from a jail to be taken to Chonchocoro maximum security prison, in La Paz, Bolivia, June 29, 2024. (AP)
The Bolivian Foreign Ministry on Monday strongly rejected statements by Argentine President Javier Milei's office regarding the recent coup attempt in Bolivia, labeling them as "unfriendly and reckless."
The controversy erupted on Sunday when Milei's office issued a statement claiming that information about the coup attempt in Bolivia had been "confirmed" as "fraudulent."
In response, the Bolivian Foreign Ministry released a statement condemning the June 30th remarks made by the Argentine president's office about the failed military coup attempt that occurred on June 26, 2024.
"The Bolivian Foreign Ministry strongly rejects the unfriendly and reckless statements made by the Argentine president's office in its communique of June 30, made in reference to the failed military coup attempt that took place on June 26, 2024," the ministry stated.
The ministry emphasized that any military action involving tanks and soldiers against the elected government "is clearly a coup d'etat." It further lamented that political interests, which were previously at play during the 2019 election scandal in Bolivia, were once again threatening the country's stability.
The ministry is referencing the results of an investigation by La Paz, in which Bolivia accuses former Argentine President Mauricio Macri of sending arms to the country to suppress protests during the presidency of Jeanine Anez. Anez was detained in March 2021 and has been in pre-trial detention since amid accusations of genocide, among other crimes.
The Bolivian military, led by former Commander-in-Chief General Juan Jose Zuniga, gathered on June 26 in the central square of Bolivia's administrative capital, La Paz, and attempted to break into the presidential palace.
Videos shared on social media showed heavily armed soldiers and armored vehicles gathering in La Paz's Plaza Murillo, where key government buildings are situated.
President Arce denounced the events as a coup attempt and emphasized the need to uphold democratic principles. In response to the crisis, Arce appointed new heads of the military, air force, and navy, following the attempted takeover led by Zuniga.
The people of Bolivia also took to the streets to protest against the attempted coup.
President Arce denounced the "unauthorized mobilization" of military units and called for respect for democratic processes as soldiers rallied in front of the presidential residence in the country's capital.
Even Anez, who was mentioned in the military's demands for the release of political prisoners, has also condemned the coup attempt.
"I condemn the mobilization of the military at Murillo Square, who intend to destroy the constitutional order. [Political movement] MAS [headed by Bolivian President Luis] Arce and [ex-President Evo] Morales should leave [power] through a vote in 2025. We Bolivians will defend democracy," Anez said on X.
