For following the Bolivia coup d'etat June 26 2024
#Bolivia Possible Coup Attempt June 26 2024
slim dune
fast hearth
So if I'm understanding this correctly, General Juan José Zúñiga Macías seems to be behind this?
And is claiming to be doing this to protect the constitution since Morales is running again when he technically can't?
slim dune
Yes, he just walked into Palacio Quemado on the live stream
More on Zuniga here: https://www.vision360.bo/noticias/2024/06/25/6984-reportan-que-el-comandante-del-ejercito-juan-jose-zuniga-fue-relevado-de-su-cargo-tras-polemicas-declaraciones
And two live streams; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yred-psscKs
Zuniga's just walked out of the presidential palace
he was in there about 5 minutes
Bolivian media reported earlier today that Zuniga had been removed from his post earlier today after calling Evo Morales "a demagogue" and "a traitor"
Arce, the current president, is from Morales' party
Bolivia Possible Coup Attempt June 26 2024
fast hearth
OAS has condemned it https://x.com/Almagro_OEA2015/status/1806047849236341113
Twitter
slim dune
Twitter
vestal mica
Twitter
fast hearth
Oh shoot, local media is reporting a convoy of military vehicles on the way to La Paz
past wren
https://fixupx.com/AssLatam/status/1806058685954728363
Not the greatest of sources but seems that the guy who was removed from power earlier today is attempting to declare himself dictator
slim dune
Yeah that's what it looks like is happening
fast hearth
So if I've been hearing right, he stormed the "Casa Grande" while the entire cabinet was in session?
slim dune
I'm hearing in the live stream that it was the Palacio Quemado (not sure if that's another name for Casa Grande)
And also that yes, President Arce and the cabinet was meeting
Zuniga was there for about 5 minutes and then he left
fast hearth
I'm hearing in the live stream that it was the Palacio Quemado (not sure if that...
Ok, so Palacio Quemado is basically the old building in front of the new one built by Evo Morales govenment (The giant tower)
slim dune
Gotcha
fast hearth
Oh right, because the color scheme makes it look burnt!
past wren
Yeah that's what it looks like is happening
Thought they also seem to be framing it in a "we're just expressing our dismay" way
slim dune
Yeah in that tweet you shared they keep asking him if he's launching a coup, if he's taking over, etc. and he doesn't say "Yes thats right"
but then he also says "We're putting a new cabinet in place and the country can't keep going like this"
If you speak Spanish, live commentary here from Bolivian media: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yred-psscKs
past wren
and if it works, it'd of course need a transitionary military government until the new "correct" one can be established. With a constantly backsliding date of when that handover would happen
I'm hoping this does end in a Wagner Coup sputter but it is also how almost every military takeover frames itself
fast hearth
People are starting to gather outside Murillo Square to demand the military leave.
slim dune
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yred-psscKs Live feed of people barricading the doors of the Palacio Quemado to stop army from coming back in
Strikes me that Zuniga was inside the building with Arce and others for about 5 minutes but then just left
Pic from the live stream I shared above. That's President Arce and Zuniga (in the black beret) standing off against each other earlier
fast hearth
Pic from the live stream I shared above. That's President Arce and Zuniga (in th...
If this were a bit clearer, I would include this in iconic images for 2024.
slim dune
Arce just spoke on TV but the live stream I'm watching tuned in late
Arce says: "We are facing an attempted coup d'etat. We're once again facing an attack against democracy in Bolivia. The democratic government stands here, firm, [in the presidential palace] to face off against any attempt against our democracy. We call on the Bolivian people to mobilize against the coup d'etat, and in support of democracy (...) we call on everyone to defend democracy..."
fast hearth
Labor organizations have announced an indefinite strike
slim dune
Zuniga is still at the Plaza, he's in an armoured vehicle
vestal mica
https://x.com/JeanineAnez/status/1806056057136959714 Añez criticizes the coup attempt
Twitter
slim dune
He just came out and spoke for about a minute, said they're trying to "restore democracy in Bolivia"
fast hearth
https://x.com/JeanineAnez/status/1806056057136959714 Añez criticizes the coup at...
Ironic
slim dune
Ya, Diaz-Canel also came out and said that democracy had to be respected, etc. 
fast hearth
Classico
slim dune
Commentator on this stream https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb12KmMMDJA pointing out that the military mobilization appears to be limited to the troops currently at Plaza Murillo, and that there's no signs that other units or branches are involved
fast hearth
So a local commentator seems frustrated with the fact that there's no "clear intention" or clarification from the general leading the attempted coup. What exactly is the end game here?
distant bobcat
Just switching into this: has any of the people involved in the coup publicly stated their intentions (eg: claims of "restoring democracy" and so on?)
distant bobcat
Yeah, that's coup 101
slim dune
Just switching into this: has any of the people involved in the coup publicly st...
Yeah Zuniga's been hitting all the notes
Restoring democracy, etc.
Arce is installing new military leadership right now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yred-psscKs
Zuniga is still sitting outside in his armoured car
Really bizarre
distant bobcat
What do we know about the current PM?
slim dune
Yeah
slim dune
What do we know about the current PM?
You mean Arce? the president?
Not sure, don't have a lot of context for politics in Bolivia
fast hearth
He's at the Casa Grande
scarlet mountain
yes, hes swearing in the 3 new heads of staff
slim dune
It's business as usual mostly
scarlet mountain
everybody shouting golpistas no pasaran
slim dune
The guy who replaces Zuniga is speaking now https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yred-psscKs
distant bobcat
everybody shouting golpistas no pasaran
"coupists shall not pass"
slim dune
Its almost like Zuniga got mad that he got fired and he just grabbed a couple of dudes and figured he'd tell Arce off to his face and that's all the thought that went into this
scarlet mountain
Arce speaking now
scarlet summit
Its almost like Zuniga got mad that he got fired and he just grabbed a couple of...
I was about to ask who/what he's got with him there.
slim dune
- Make a scene and break into the presidential palace with some friends
- Tell the President and the news that you're trying to restore democracy
- ??????????
- Enjoy being the new president of Bolivia
distant bobcat
So he's a nominee for this year Darwin Awards?
scarlet mountain
Prigozhin award nominee
slim dune
There's no indication that any unit is involved in the coup beyond the ~50-100 soldiers at Plaza Murillo
They seem to be mostly MPs in riot gfear and then a handful of soldiers
And they've got maybe 2-3 armoured cars from what I've seen, and that's it
distant bobcat
Prigozhin award nominee
1 year anniversary homage
slim dune
Also interesting that the gov't hasn't deployed the police or the army to respond to the rebels
scarlet summit
So do they think he's not a threat or that they're not reliable?
slim dune
No idea
scarlet mountain
looks like Zuniga is with Arce but against Morales, wich he accuses of being the one doing a plot
slim dune
Arce did call on supporters to take to the streets, and there are civilians at the scene
weary isle
distant bobcat
So do they think he's not a threat or that they're not reliable?
Or prevent a bloodbath from some fighting, believing it can be resolved without violence
I guess we can only speculate now
slim dune
The new head of the army said in his speech something like "Zuniga has been a good commander. Please stand down. Don't spill any blood" or something to that effect
So yeah, interesting dynamic
scarlet mountain
but some blast heard in the background
slim dune
ya there's been tear gas and flashbangs going off
fast hearth
Hold up, did I just read that Zuniga is trying to escape from the plaza in an armored vehicle?
slim dune
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb12KmMMDJA Reporter here said that "the soldiers are leaving Plaza Murillo"
weary isle
AFP News Agency
https://youtube.com/watch?v=jwrmEsijDD4
scarlet mountain
yep, guess tanqueta is APC
distant bobcat
yep, guess tanqueta is APC
Yep
Translates as "little tank"
But it's used for an APC or an IMV
slim dune
Pretty confused right now -- reporter on the Argentinian stream is at Plaza Murillo, and he says that soldiers and APCS have left. But they're still visible in live video
scarlet mountain
weary isle
Pretty confused right now -- reporter on the Argentinian stream is at Plaza Muri...
Maybe a unit moved out one place
slim dune
maybe!
I'll keep watching but this seems to be evaporating really quickly
scarlet mountain
not a good idea all those civilians there
slim dune
Arce called supporters onto the streets a couple of times
snow harbor
I'm hoping this does end in a Wagner Coup sputter but it is also how almost ever...
Wagner coups hold up pretty well in Africa...
scarlet mountain
yeah, because they use the narrative they are fighting against the coloniser
distant bobcat
And the African countries on which Wagner coups have notoriously extremely weak governments.
The Bolivian state isn't the most functional but it's way more structured and powerful than those countries.
And besides the nature of this event seems very different, this is very unlikely to be sponsored by a foreign, powerful actor as Wagner/Russian government
scarlet summit
Zúñiga claimed in comments to journalists before his arrest that Arce himself told the general to storm the palace in a political move. “The president told me: ‘The situation is very screwed up, very critical. It is necessary to prepare something to raise my popularity’,”
From the confrontation in the palace hallway:
“I am your captain, and I order you to withdraw your soldiers, and I will not allow this insubordination,” Arce said.
https://apnews.com/article/bolivia-military-deployment-arce-coup-fears-028cd88f3be1fb02164c05deb0faa099
gray lark
slim dune
Zuniga said that Arce told him to stage the coup attempt https://www.vision360.bo/noticias/2024/06/26/7074-aprehenden-a-zuniga-quien-dice-que-arce-ordeno-la-salida-de-los-blindados
