(AFP La Paz, 2nd) A remarkable crisis broke out in the South American country of Bolivia recently: armed groups occupied several military posts, resulting in at least 200 soldiers being taken hostage. The Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the incident was related to supporters of former President Morales, and the situation became increasingly tense.

According to a statement from the Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the incident occurred in Chapare Province, where three local military posts were attacked by irregular groups. The attackers not only took more than 200 soldiers hostage, but also seized weapons and ammunition. This behavior caused the situation to deteriorate sharply, and the confrontation between the government and armed groups entered a stalemate.

Initially, the Bolivian government's report only mentioned that 20 soldiers were held hostage, but subsequent investigations showed that the actual number was far more than this number, exposing the seriousness and complexity of the situation.

The cause of the crisis can be traced back to three weeks ago, when Morales' supporters began to block roads across the country in order to prevent the former president from being arrested on so-called "fabricated charges." Morales insists that the charges are aimed at obstructing his return to politics, reflecting the intensity of the political struggle.

In response to the situation, the Bolivian authorities have sent troops to the Cochabamba region to assist the police in clearing roadblocks set up to restore public order. However, as tensions escalate, the confrontation between the two sides does not seem to be eased.

It is worth noting that Morales and the current President Luis Arce both come from the left-wing ruling party "Movement for Socialism". However, with the presidential election approaching in August next year, the two have gone from being close allies to fierce competitors, which has also made the current political situation more complicated.

In this context, the escalation of violence not only poses a threat to the safety of soldiers, but may also have a profound impact on the stability of the country and future elections. The government faces a major challenge in how to effectively deal with this crisis, while also paying attention to the society's response to the political situation. As the situation develops, how Bolivia's future will go remains an open question.