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Bolivia's military says armed group holding soldiers captive

November 1, 2024

Some 20 military personnel are reportedly being held in Cochabamba, a political stronghold of former President Evo Morales, whose supporters have been organizing road blockades for weeks.

https://p.dw.com/p/4mVOF
Police use tear gas to disperse supporters of former President Evo Morales who have been blocking roads for days to prevent a criminal investigation from being launched against him over allegations of abuse of a minor during his time in office
Supporters of former President Evo Morales have blocked roads in protest of a criminal probe against himImage: Juan Karita/AP Photo/picture alliance

The Bolivian armed forces said Friday "irregular armed groups" took control of a military facility near the central city of Cochabamba and were holding some soldiers captive.

The military did not provide further details. But the French AFP news agency reported, citing military sources, that at least 20 military personnel were being held by supporters of former President Evo Morales.

In a statement, the armed forces urged those responsible for the takeover to "immediately and peacefully" abandon the facility.

A recording broadcast on local media showed some uniformed soldiers with their hands behind their backs, surrounded by members of the armed group.

"They have cut off our water, electricity and are keeping us hostage," an unnamed uniformed man is heard saying in the video.

Takeover after confrontation

Before the seizure, some soldiers in the area had fled their homes with their families, according to media reports. 

The latest development comes after a standoff earlier between security forces and protesters. 

Police and military units had sought to remove a blockade of a key highway between Cochabamba and the city of Oruro, when some protesters launched dynamite at them from nearby hills. Police then fired tear gas at them. 

Police clear a road blocked by supporters of former President Evo Morales, to prevent him from facing a criminal investigation over allegations of abuse of a minor while in office, in Parotani, Bolivia, Friday, November 1
Authorities vowed to clear the blockadesImage: Juan Karita/AP/picture alliance

Why are Morales' supporters blocking roads in Bolivia?

Morales' supporters have been blocking roads and clashing with security forces in the central Bolivia region in recent weeks in a bid to impede his arrest on rape charges. 

They say the allegations against him — including rape, human trafficking and human smuggling over his alleged relationship with a 15-year-old girl in 2015 — are false and politically motivated.  

Morales' supporters also blame current Bolivian President Luis Arce for a rise in food and fuel prices. 

Several people walk along a rock-covered road during the road blockade installed by supporters of former Bolivian President Evo Morales, calling for the resignation of President Luis Arce Catacora, in Sipe Sipe, Bolivia on October 31
Officials say the blockades have caused shortages in fuel and foodImage: Alexis Gomez/Anadolu/picture alliance

Arce and Morales, both with roots in the country's ruling socialist party, have become bitter rivals.

Earlier this week, Arce demanded an "immediate" end to the roadblocks, which he said had an estimated economic cost of more than $1.7 billion.

He warned that the government would "exercise its constitutional powers to safeguard the interests of the Bolivian people" if the protesters did not comply.

Bolivia's Evo Morales says government tried to kill him

fb/msh (AFP, Reuters)