Cracks in the military's ranks

05.25.2005

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Reports that two Bolivian lieutenant colonels came out w/ public calls for toppling president Mesa (hat tip Barrio Flores). While this likely isn't the "official" military position (certainly not of the high command), it suggests an important crack in the military as an institution, as well as some success in protest groups (the colonels statements suggest they've aligned themselves w/ the Solares-COB position) to curry military support. There's also rumors of Santa Cruz civic leaders contacting military officers who may be loyal to their region's interests.

The two officers' statements led military high command to restrict personnel to barracks; the two officers are expected to be sanctioned. More on this story at bolivia.com/noticias here, here, and here. Essentially, the colonels' opinions were known earlier, military spokesmen announced, after a possible coup plot by mid-level officers was discovered; the co-conspirators were sent to small outposts along the frontier, to isolate them. A large contingent of soldiers has entered to presidential palace, to beef up security, just in case.

A dynamite attack on parliament today damaged the building. Plaz Murillo (where government sits) is still under de facto siege by various protest groups. And police arrested Roberto De la Cruz, COR leader & El Alto councilman for disturbing the peace & inciting violence during the recent protests. Like Solares, De la Cruz has frequently called for a coup to topple Mesa's government, as well as full nationalization/confiscation of natural gas fields.

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UPDATE 1: The two officers in question, Lt. Col. Juilio Cesar Galindo and Lt. Col. Julio Herrera, name their conspiracy the "Movimiento Militar Generacional" — which is similar to the name of the movement headed by Col. German Busch & Col. David Toro that seized power in 1936. Their goals are: the resignation of Carlos Mesa, a rejection of constitution succession, closing parliament, immediately convoking a constitutional convention, the creation of a civil-military pact to nationalize hydrocarbons, and a rejection of autonomy demands from Tarija & Santa Cruz. Essentially it's an anacronistic throwback to 1930s revolutionary nationalism. Source: CEDIB (I'm on their mailing list).

UPDATE 2: It's now hit the BBC, Reuters, and Bloomberg. And my good friend Daniel (in La Paz) has posted an observations/analysis retrospective of the last two years.

Posted by Miguel at 05:01 PM

Comments

Let de la Cruz feel the heavy arm of the law.

Posted by: Miguel (MABB) at May 25, 2005 05:57 PM

From the BBC report..."Pressure on the president is also growing from the wealthy east of the country..."

Wealthy... I think they mean, the "not as poor the west side" people.

Posted by: sam at May 26, 2005 03:22 PM