Bolivia Coup: President Luis Arce Denies Rumors He Planned Coup To Help Sagging Popularity

After facing a coup from one of his country's top generals, Bolivia President Luis Arce is now denying rumors that he was the one actually behind the coup so that he could boost his declining popularity as the country's economic woes begin to bite.

"We were never informed about his intentions," he told reporters during a press conference in the capital, La Paz. "We were surprised."

The coup happened Wednesday as a group of soldiers tried to batter down the doors of the government palace in an effort to remove Arce from power. The coup was led by the then-chief of the Army, Juan Jose Zuniga, who was soon confronted by Arce himself and was ordered to stand down. He eventually did and ordered his troops to leave after they became surrounded by pro-government forces, as well as Arce's civilian supporters.

Zuniga was soon arrested, along with the chief of Bolivia's Navy. Before he was arrested, however, the general told reporters that the coup was the idea of President Arce, whose popularity was declining amid Bolivia's declining economy and facing a serious challenge for his re-election.

In his statement before he was arrested, Zuniga told local media that three days before the coup, Arce had authorized him to mobilize the armored vehicles "with the objective of controlling the situation of conflicts in the country."

Interior Minister Eduardo del Castillo said during an interview that the government received reports of "destabilization attempts," but they did not have any more information about this during that time. The public itself is also divided on whether Zuniga was just casting doubt into the case or if Arce is really behind the coup to rally the public behind him.

Bolivia President Luis Arce Thanks Supporters for Helping Repel Coup

It was not just pro-Arce forces that helped repel the coup, as a large contingent of civilians with Bolivian flags came to the square near the government palace and helped in making Zuniga's soldiers withdraw. Arce soon thanked them.

"Many thanks to the Bolivian people," said the president. "Long live democracy."

Despite Arce getting a boost in popularity thanks to the coup, it did not solve his country's other problems, as the economy is still on a dive, while he is facing a tough re-election against former President Evo Morales, a former ally.

Families of 21 Bolivia Coup Suspects Plead Government for Mercy

Aside from the two top military officials being detained, there are a total of 21 military personnel were also detained for their role in the attempted coup. Their families are now begging the government for mercy for them and that they were just "tricked" into following Zuniga.

"They call us, they say that if we do anything, say anything, they're going to disappear us. They threaten not just us, but our children too," Gimena Silva, wife of one of the coup plotters told the Associated Press. Her husband, Luis Domingo Balanza, an Army major, was among the 21 people arrested.

"How are we going to feed our family?" asked another loved one. "I can't think of the future, what future can someone who has been implicated, who has been treated like this," the mother of one of the coup plotters added. "My son isn't a villain ... he's just a subordinate. He safeguarded his patrimony and they took advantage of him."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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