US monitors situation in Bolivia after failed coup

The U.S. State Department said Monday it is monitoring the situation in Bolivia following last week’s failed military coup.

“We continue to monitor the situation in Bolivia as I imagine many in the international community do. We understand and have taken note of the many views that have emerged in recent days,” Deputy State Spokesman Vedant Patel told a news conference.

On June 26, soldiers took over the central square in La Paz and attacked the presidential palace with an armored truck. President Luis Arce denied allegations that he knew of the military’s plans for the failed coup attempt.

The US said it “welcomes” an independent analysis of the events. “These events in Bolivia make clear that democracy remains fragile in some parts of our hemisphere,” Patel added.

At the moment, there are 21 people arrested for the events, including the former commander of the country’s Army, Juan José Zúñiga, who was identified as responsible and sent to a maximum security prison on the outskirts of La Paz.

The U.S. government said it intends to work with other countries in the region “in accordance with the OAS Charter and the Inter-American Democratic Charter to protect the democratic institutions of our countries.”

Patel concluded that until an independent review is completed, the U.S. government will avoid offering additional perspectives on what happened.

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