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The context of the Bolivian coup attempt
Indigenous rights activist MIRIAM AMANCAY COLQUE gives her thoughts on the dramatic events in La Paz earlier this week which saw a thwarted attempt to overthrow President Arce

WHAT is behind the attempted coup in Bolivia?

There are conflicting versions. It is said that initially what happened in Bolivia was a self-coup that got out of hand for the government of Luis Arce and it became a coup d’etat led by the former commander of the armed forces, General Juan Jose Zuniga. Police did nothing to prevent this attempted coup.

Some MPs also said that this was a highly planned operation to restore Luis Arce’s popularity which has dropped to only 18 per cent. The purpose: to close parliament and go after Evo Morales, even if they have to kill him.

Zuniga was recently removed from office after making statements of a political nature and threatening Evo Morales, the president of the MAS-IPSP (Movement for Socialism), stating that he would not be allowed to be a candidate in 2025. “We will put Evo in jail if he runs as a candidate,” he said.

Is a counter-revolution still a big danger in Bolivia?

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