Alleged coup d'état: Opposition leader Camacho arrested in Bolivia

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Opposition politician Camacho: governor's office speaks of "kidnapping"

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JORGE BERNAL / AFP

Police have arrested Bolivian opposition leader Luis Fernando Camacho for his involvement in an alleged coup.

The governor of the state of Santa Cruz was arrested on Wednesday on the basis of an arrest warrant, the attorney general said.

The right-wing politician is accused of playing an important role in the protests against the then head of state Evo Morales in 2019.

Morales eventually had to resign, and the current left-wing government sees the protests at the time as a coup d'état.

The governor's office spoke of an "irregular police action" and accused the officers of "kidnapping" Camacho.

After the arrest, his supporters blocked streets in Santa Cruz.

They clashed with the police and set fire to the local prosecutor's office.

Initially, no injuries were reported.

Dozens of supporters of the opposition politician also flocked to both Santa Cruz airports to prevent Camacho's transfer to La Paz.

Several flights had to be canceled because of the protests.

Former interim president already in prison

In June, Bolivia's former interim president Jeanine Añez was sentenced to ten years in prison in connection with the overthrow of her predecessor Morales.

Former Senate Vice President Añez temporarily assumed the highest office in November 2019 after Morales resigned and went into exile in the face of mass protests and pressure from the army.

In the presidential election in October 2020, Morales‹ party friend Luis Arce finally won, Camacho finished third.

A month later, Morales returned to Bolivia and resumed leadership of the governing party MAS, which he had founded.

Camacho recently led a general strike in his department to force an early census.

The Santa Cruz government hopes that this will result in more tax revenue and more seats in parliament.

sol/dpa/AFP