A self-proclaimed activist, but without official recognition by legally established Bolivian human rights organizations, Hamdan is accused of the alleged commission of crimes of terrorism and armed uprising against the security and sovereignty of the State.
According to preliminary investigations, soldiers involved in the case testified that the political activist met with former Army chief Juan José Zúñiga, ringleader of the coup, and participated in the planning of the failed coup.
“Lawyer Jorge Valda, moving away from the practice of law, engages in political activities, the same activity that engineer Fernando Hamdan has carried out,” stated Aguilera.
According to Valda himself, the accused contacted Zúñiga in a personal meeting, which took place on June 24 and lasted a long time.
On that same date, Zúñiga spoke on television that he was going to arrest the political leader Evo Morales, a deliberative expression that violated the Constitution and military regulations.
In this regard, Aguilera stressed that in this way he began to implement the advisory plan for Hamdan, who, disguised as a human rights activist, served as an advisor to the coup d’état.
The vice minister assured there is no political persecution and explained that, when the activist arrived in La Paz, he was picked up at the El Alto airport by a member of Army Intelligence and was taken to Plaza Abaroa, in the center of La Paz, in a private vehicle.
He added that, at the time of staying at the Don Melo Hotel, which is owned by another Army officer, he asked not to be searched.
Additionally, Aguilera observed, the tickets were paid for by an Army officer, “this is a perfect harmony of someone who was painted as someone who defended human rights, but in reality he is a politician who was providing advice.”
According to evidence from the investigations, the now detained man had at least nine telephone contacts with General Zúñiga between 3:43 p.m. and 4:56 p.m., Bolivia time, on June 26, that is, during the execution of the failed coup.
In this context, the Anti-Corruption and Violence Against Women Investigative Judge number five ordered the preventive detention of the political activist, in the San Pedro prison in the city of La Paz, for a period of 180 days.
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