Bolivia. Armed attackers took over three military units, soldiers as hostages

Bolivian President Luis Arce wrote on X that “armed groups associated with Evo Morales” attacked and occupied three military units in the department of Cochabamba, considered a stronghold of the former president's supporters. According to the head of state, the attackers took soldiers and their families hostage and threatened them with death. Arce described these actions as high treason.

Bolivian television showed photos showing a row of soldiers with their hands behind their backs, surrounded by members of an armed group. A defense ministry source told AFP that a total of about 20 people were being held. Army Bolivia called on those responsible for taking over the units to leave each of them “immediately and peacefully.”

Former president Evo Morales called on the attackers for dialogue with the government at a press conference on Friday. Without taking responsibility for the attack on military facilities, he announced the start of a hunger protest until talks between the parties began. He also appealed to his supporters, who have been massively protesting and blocking main roads in many parts of the country for 19 days, to lift the blockades.

– The lives of my instructors and soldiers are in danger – said one military official anonymously.

President Arce emphasized that many of the soldiers, like their captors, are working class and family members of indigenous people in the area.

The seizure of military facilities marks another escalation of the conflict between Morales and Arc, former political allies. The dispute is intensifying in connection with next year's presidential elections, in which both of them intend to run.

READ MORE: A car shot at and 14 bullet holes. Former president: they wanted to kill me

Earlier this week, police and the army tried to clear a highway blockade set up by Morales' supporters. In response to the intervention of the services, the protesters fired dynamite explosives at them.

Morales' supporters set up roadblocks in mid-October to pressure him to end the investigation into the former president over allegations of abuse of a minor. Morales argued at the time that the investigation was politically motivated. Since then, transport disruptions have cost Bolivia $1.7 billion, President Arce said.

Arce and Morales, who come from the same party, turned from allies into fierce enemies in a few months while fighting for support before next year's presidential elections. Bolivia is currently in an economic crisis resulting from declining gas production, depletion of foreign exchange reserves and increasing inflation.