(La Paz) The former head of the Bolivian army, General Juan José Zuniga, and two other high-ranking officers accused of leading the failed coup against President Luis Arce on Wednesday were placed in custody on Saturday. pre-trial detention in a high security prison, noted AFP.
On Friday, the courts ordered their imprisonment for six months in the Chonchocoro prison, on the outskirts of El Alto, a municipality near La Paz, while the investigation into the armed uprising that lasted a few hours is underway.
General Zuniga, Vice-Admiral Juan Arnez, former head of the navy, and Alejandro Irahola, former head of the mechanized brigade, are being prosecuted for “terrorism” and “armed uprising”, they face up to 20 years in prison.
PHOTO AIZAR RALDES, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Former head of the Bolivian army’s mechanized brigade, Alejandro Irahola
A total of 21 active, retired and civilian soldiers were arrested in connection with the attempted coup, in which troops equipped with armored vehicles besieged the presidential palace for several hours before retreating.
On Saturday, the Minister of the Interior indicated that he had provided the justice system with evidence proving the military’s intention to carry out a coup d’état against Mr. Arce. “We discovered a radio telegram” ordering the transfer of a plane to repatriate special forces to La Paz, Eduardo Del Castillo told the press.
General Zuniga claimed to have acted on the orders of the president, who had asked him to “stage something to increase his popularity.” A version vigorously denied by Mr. Arce.