A army coup try is underway in Bolivia, with troops and tanks on the streets : NPR
A army coup try is underway in Bolivia. A whole lot of troops and armored autos have taken to the streets of La Paz, surrounding the governmental palace and utilizing tear gasoline on demonstrators.
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
A army coup try is underway within the South American nation of Bolivia.
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CHANG: Armored autos have taken to the streets of the capital, La Paz, surrounding the governmental palace and repelling demonstrators with tear gasoline. We’re joined now by NPR’s Carrie Kahn for the most recent. Hello, Carrie.
CARRIE KAHN, BYLINE: Hello.
CHANG: OK, so I do know this can be a very fast-moving story. What do we all know at this level?
KAHN: Over the previous a number of hours, troops have taken over the streets across the governmental palace in La Paz. That is what we had been listening to. The top of the armed forces spoke briefly – it was a really chaotic scenario – seen proper in entrance of the palace and rambled on about preserving democracy, saving the youngsters’s future for Bolivia. He mentioned all political prisoners could be launched. After which at one level, an armored automobile started ramming the entrance door of the palace. That was fairly dramatic.
The top of the army and the president, Luis Arce, had a tense standoff then that was broadcast reside on TV, and Arce advised the commander that he was the chief of the armed forces and to take away all troops instantly. Arce then swore in a brand new basic commander of the army and condemned vehemently the actions of what he mentioned had been unhealthy troopers. This is a few of that.
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PRESIDENT LUIS ARCE: (Non-English language spoken).
KAHN: Arce says, the one factor they’re doing now could be staining the democratic picture of Bolivia to the world and inflicting turmoil and uncertainty within the nation at a time after we all must work collectively to maneuver our nation ahead.
CHANG: And Carrie, are you able to simply replace us on the broader scenario in Bolivia just lately? Like, was there any indication {that a} coup or the type of army motion that we have seen right now – that that might presumably occur?
KAHN: There was loads of turmoil within the nation. There have been loads of protests over the deteriorating financial scenario. There’s been a drastic scarcity of {dollars} within the nation. Bolivia had been certainly one of South America’s fastest-growing economies. And as its profitable gasoline reserves have declined, it has been coping with a number of crises.
There’s additionally a giant rift on the high of the ruling celebration. Arce, the president now, and the previous leftist president, Evo Morales, have been combating for the celebration’s management, and that is forward of upcoming elections subsequent yr. However it seems that this tried coup might be over as quick because it all occurred. It seems just like the army autos and troops are leaving from that chaotic scene there in downtown La Paz.
CHANG: Wow. That’s NPR’s Carrie Kahn. Thanks a lot, Carrie.
KAHN: You are welcome.
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