Civil-Military Relations Update
(Compiled by WOLA intern Laura Fontaine.)
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Since Enrique Peña Nieto assumed Mexico’s presidency last December, the average number of Mexican soldiers involved in combating organized crime and drug-trafficking on any given day has dropped from 50,000 to just over 32,000. But along with this drop has come an increase in the number of soldiers injured or killed on the job. During ex-President Felipe Calderón’s 2006–2012 administration, an average of 3.1 soldiers died per month. This statistic has now risen to 4.5 per month.
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Mexico has at least 14 state governments where military personnel, either active or retired, are in charge of public security.
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In its 2013–18 National Development Plan, Mexico has included language indicating that the armed forces will remain in the fight against organized crime.
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In his first major military deployment to target drug traffickers, Mexico President Peña Nieto sent army troops to the state of Michoacán state, charging them with taking “back control of a region long besieged by a deadly drug cartel.”
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Mexico’s Senate Judiciary Committee presented a first draft of a proposal to reform military justice. It would increase civilian courts’ jurisdiction over military personnel accused of violating civilians’ human rights.
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Citing insufficient evidence against them, prosecutors in Mexico released five army generals who had been jailed during the Calderón administration. The five were accused of ties to drug traffickers, and were awaiting trial. All have been reinstated.
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Peru is attempting to formulate new incentives to encourage more citizens to join the armed forces, rather than a proposed system of compulsory military service to fill perceived personnel gaps.
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Venezuela inaugurated a new high command in July, along with the country’s first female defense minister, Adm. Carmen Meléndez.
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In late April, Venezuela’s government announced that its electrical system was to become completely “militarized” in order to avoid any acts of sabotage. Officials have cited such sabotage as a reason for frequent power blackouts; the government’s critics blame poor maintenance of the electrical grid.
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Nicolás Maduro, president of Venezuela, has announced a plan, “Plan Patria Segura,” to deploy troops into the streets to help combat criminal violence.
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President Maduro affirmed that deceased ex-President Hugo Chávez had succeeded in reunifying Venezuela’s armed forces before his death, and that there were no divisions among the troops.
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In May, Guatemala’s national government declared a state of emergency in four regions of the country experiencing protests against mining projects. Military-run vehicle checkpoints were set up in these areas.
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In Ecuador, members of the police and military have begun to patrol certain areas of the capital together in armored vehicles.
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Honduras’ Congress decided to increase the size of the armed forces by 1,000 in order to carry out internal security missions.
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As ordered by President Danilo Medina, Dominican Republic troops have begun patrolling the streets of the country in conjunction with police.
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President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner of Argentina announced a new plan for the country’s military, including a budget increase of 24% and a far larger role in response to natural disasters. She also said that the state armaments company will dedicate itself to engineering projects like improving roadways and building railway cars.