Bolivia army submit taken over and troopers held hostage
An armed group has taken management of a army facility close to the Bolivian metropolis of Cochabamba, the nation’s army says, and is holding some troopers captive.
The military had began an operation to take away blockades across the nation on Friday morning, native media reported, after weeks of clashes between supporters of former President Evo Morales and the police.
In a press release, the military stated the group had seized arms and ammunition and urged them to go away, warning that such actions amounted to “treason”.
Photos of a row of troopers with their arms behind their backs, surrounded by members of the armed group, have been proven on native tv.
Cochabamba is in central Bolivia and is dwelling to many supporters of the previous president.
Shortly after the power was taken over by the group, the army introduced the evacuation of personnel and their households, native media reported.
One of many troopers being held within the facility stated, in a message to his command centre, that the group have been demanding that authorities cease interfering with blockades, Bolivian information company ANF stated.
Morales’ supporters have created blockades across the nation for 19 days, demanding an finish to an investigation into the previous president for alleged statutory rape and human trafficking, which he denies.
On Sunday, Morales shared a video of his automobile being shot at, in what he referred to as an “assassination try” towards him.
The Bolivian authorities rejected Morales’ claims that it ordered a focused assault on him.
His supporters had clashed with followers of his rival, present President Luis Arce, on a number of events earlier this 12 months. Each males intend to run as candidate for the ruling Mas get together within the nation’s 2025 presidential elections.
Morales, who was president from 2006 to 2019, was declared the winner of the 2019 election however resigned weeks later after nationwide protests triggered by claims of election fraud.
