Mexican and Other Latin American Militaries Become Tools for Abusive Governments

(Photo : Reuters/Jose Cabezas)
El Salvador's soldiers leave National Congress after brief occupation

An army of heavily armed soldiers and police officers' brief occupation of El Salvador's parliament building this month recalled one of Latin America's darkest times when much of the region was governed by military dictators.

Heavily armed forces briefly occupied El Salvador's congress this month in a show of force to intimidate lawmakers into passing an anti-crime bill.

The Latin American troops were dressed in battle fatigues and tactical gear when they entered the parliament building after President Nayib Bukele failed to push through approval of a $109 million equipment loan, which was meant to buy police vehicles, uniforms, surveillance equipment, and a helicopter.

The move by the soldiers, ordered by President Bukele, drew condemnation from the opposition, saying it was an act of a dictator.

El Salvador isn't the only Latin American country seeing an emergence in the military's powers.

Armed forces are once again throwing their weight around following numerous street protests and demonstrations demanding actions against rising crime and corruption from their respective governments. Protesters also urged their country's president to revive their stagnant economy.

Bolivia's president Evo Morales was urged by the country's armed forces to resign after claiming a win during an election last October. His claim to have won a fourth term as Bolivia's president was met with protests urging him to step down, calling the election a fraud.

Morales clung to power until, during a TV address, Bolivia's General Williams Kaliman said, "We suggest that the president resign for the good of Bolivia."

Morales eventually fled to Mexico and later to Argentina.

In other countries, Latin American military officers have helped prop up leaders. Such was seen on TV announcements where presidents of Peru, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Honduras surrounded themselves with stern-looking generals while addressing gas price hikes and other controversial measures.

Such appearances served as a warning to would-be protesters that the armed forces are behind the president.

"The high command is certainly lending itself to political messaging at key moments," Adam Isacson, a military analyst at the Washington Office on Latin America, said.

In Mexico, Central America, and Chile, high-ranking military officials were brought into the inner circles of civilian governments. Troops have also been sent into the streets to hunt down criminals, disperse protests, and block migrants.

President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela has retained the support of the army after he placed officers in charge of state functions such as food distribution and oil production.

Nine of the 22 ministers in Brazil's government came from the armed forces --- the vice president, as well as President's Jair Bolsonaro's chief of staff Gen. Walter Braga Netto who was the army's second-highest-ranking officer.

Bolsonaro, who himself a former army captain, held a military parade last year to commemorate the 1964 coup.

His parade was met with much contempt. Presidential Spokesman Gen. Otavio Rego Barros responded to the outrage saying the president believes society brought together civilians, and the army helped put the country back on track.

Frank Mora, a former US Defense Department official, said it is unlikely the region will return to full-fledged military rule, saying they are quite wary of taking on policing duties as it can hurt their reputations.

The lack of training in the political aspect, which can lead to human rights violations, is another prospect many militaries are very concerned about.

She said the armed forces are also concerned about "exposing themselves to corruption."

Maria Victoria Llorente, the director of the Ideas for Peace Foundation, said militaries are still trying to fix damages brought about by terrible governance in the 1970s and '80s.

She also said the military has already "learned their lesson."