BOLlVIAi Military Setback
The government's strong rebuff of tho military's latest ma-Miami against ths election procehs nay interrupt chronic ooup plotting at least until after the presidential eleoticn scheduled forune; hsfM
The military chiefs have repeatedly underestimated President Gueiler's determination to reinstate elected government and have overestimated the public's tolerance for military intrusion into the transition plans. Their record leaves open the possibility for further efforts to derail the election. aamV
Military hardliners, fearing that the election could jeopardize their power base, had demanded it be postponed for ona year. Gueiler's rejection on Thursday of the demand and her attempts to thwart an earlier effort by the military to declare the US Ambassador persona ion grata have forced the military to reevaluate plana,oup.
Coup plotters ln the high command grosslytha reaction of tha public and government. The attack on the Ambassador has produced only limitedsupport, while the outcryossible delay in the election suggests that most Bolivians would resist an Interruption of the constitutional process at this late date, JV
Gueiler's actions have added to the differences among key military leaders. Commanders reportedly are questioning the'ability of General Garciaprincipalcarryoup, and midlcvel officers aro reported to bo disenchanted with the high command. Lack of unity proved fatal to the coup attempt last November. '
provsd JorSeleasfi FEB im
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