Unsuccessful military coup attempt, army chief detained in Bolivia

A military coup attempt occurred in Bolivia. Army armored vehicles raided the presidential residence in La Paz, the country’s capital, on Wednesday (June 26) local time. However, the military coup attempt ultimately failed. The army chief involved in the incident was dismissed and arrested.According to a BBC report, Bolivian police have arrested the leader of the coup attempt. General Juan José Zuniga, the rebel military officer in charge, said he wanted to “restore democracy”. He is now under arrest.According to the report, on Wednesday, the soldiers gathered in the historic Plaza Murillo square in La Paz, the capital of Bolivia. At that time they were accompanied by tanks and other armored vehicles. Murillo Square houses the residence of the President of Bolivia and the Congress building. At one stage of the operation, a tank tried to break down the gate of the President’s residence.At that time, General Juan Jose Sunia, the army chief, declared rebellion against the government outside the residence of the president and said to the soldiers, “We are going to recover this homeland.” The armed forces want to restore democracy in the country, to establish true democracy. An elite class has taken over the country, who have destroyed the country. The same 40-50 people will not be allowed to run the country.Shortly after this military operation, Juan Jose Sunia was dismissed from his post by President Archie. He condemned the army’s action as an attempt at a ‘coup’. Jose Wilson Sanchez was appointed as the new army chief. He ordered the soldiers to go back to their barracks. Shortly thereafter, troops and tanks were seen withdrawing from the Plaza Murillo square.Meanwhile, the former president of the country, Eva Morales, condemned the action of the army. He called for criminal charges against General Zuniga and his associates. A source in the country’s legal department said there would be a criminal investigation.The US said it was monitoring the situation closely. At the same time, the country has called for peace and moderation.