Buenos Aires, Dec 29, (dpa/GNA) – Police in Bolivia, have arrested opposition leader Luis Fernando Camacho, on suspicion of having been involved in a coup attempt, according to the public prosecutor’s office.
Camacho, who is also the governor of the wealthy state of Santa Cruz, was detained on Wednesday on the basis of an arrest warrant, it said.
The right-wing politician, is being accused of having played a key role in the 2019 protests, that led to the resignation of then president Evo Morales from the left-wing camp.
Bolivia’s current left-wing government under President Luis Arce, considers the protests a coup.
The Santa Cruz regional government said in a statement that Camacho’s arrest, amounts to kidnapping. The 43-year-old was arrested during an irregular police operation, and taken to an unknown location, it said, adding that it would hold Arce responsible for Camacho’s safety.
After Morales resigned and fled abroad, Camacho ran for president in Bolivia’s 2020 elections, but was defeated by Arce. He recently led a general strike in his department, to force an early census, which the regional government in Santa Cruz hopes would bring more tax revenue and more seats in the national parliament.
GNA