A total of 21 people both military or civilians have been arrested so far in connection with Wednesday's failed coup d'état against the administration of President Luis Arce Catacora, Government Minister Eduardo del Castillo confirmed Friday in La Paz. So far there is a total of 21 people apprehended in the case called failed coup d'état, the official said.
The Organization of American States' General Assembly in session at Asunción, Paraguay, Thursday passed a strong condemnation of the attempted coup d'état in Bolivia the day before. The continental body dubbed Wednesday's events in La Paz a threat to the constitutional regime. It was also a flagrant insubordination to the orders publicly expressed by the constitutional president Luis Arce Catacora, the delegates concurred unanimously.
Bolivian President Luis Arce Catacora thanked his fellow countrymen and the international community for their support Wednesday during the military uprising that was eventually quashed with the arrest of General Juan José Zúñiga and the other rebel leaders and officers.
As all attendees were focused on the ongoing crisis unfolding in Bolivia, Paraguayan President Santiago Peña opened the Organization of American States (OAS) 54th General Assembly in Asunción by highlighting that democracy was the way to fight transnational crime, drug trafficking, and terrorism.
In a dramatic escalation of political tension in Bolivia, a faction of the military led by ousted Army Chief Juan José Zúñiga has forcefully entered the Palacio Quemado, the seat of government in La Paz. President Luis Arce has called on citizens to “mobilize against the coup d'état,” emphasizing the importance of defending democracy
Presidents Luis Arce Catacora of Bolivia and Santiago Peña Palacios of Paraguay announced the signing of Scientific and Migratory Cooperation Agreements Thursday at the Casa Grande del Pueblo in La Paz.
Bolivian President Luis Arce Catacora will be traveling to Russia next week for an encounter with Vladimir Putin, it was confirmed in La Paz Wednesday. Putin and Arce last held a telephone conversation on May 13 to advance bilateral cooperation issues. As war preparedness rises globally, Bolivia's role as that of a country hosting Iranian troops and guns cannot be ignored.
Former President Evo Morales has been deposed as leader of Bolivia's Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) after a party congress over the weekend chose Grover Garcia to chair the political movement. The winner is aligned with incumbent President Luis Arce Catacora, a former ally of Morales' who has become his deadliest enemy in recent years. García stems from the Single Confederation of Bolivian Peasant Workers Union (CSUTCB) and was also mayor of the municipality of Tiraque.
The Lower House of Bolivia's Plurinational Legislative Assembly (ALP) Thursday failed to approve the country's accession to the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) after Speaker Israel Huaytari adjourned the session during which the matter was to be debated. Lawmakers loyal to former President Evo Morales are said to oppose the Protocol of Accession of the Plurinational State of Bolivia to Mercosur initiative.
Bolivian authorities denied Tuesday the allegations by Argentina's Security Minister Patricia Bullrich that passports were being given to Iranian operatives as a result of the defense agreement between La Paz and Tehran due to which Buenos Aires upped its military readiness in border areas after siding with Israel in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.