President Bernardo Arévalo continues with the task of reforming the Army. On Sunday, September 1, on the anniversary of the Polytechnic School and Cadet Day, he expressed again that several weaknesses have been identified. Likewise, in a press conference on Monday, September 2, he reiterated that in the past the institution has had interference from cronyism in promotions to key positions.
“These decisions were often negotiated in collusion between actors inside and outside the institution, who then influenced the decisions that were being made,” he said.
Arévalo reiterates that some critical weaknesses have been identified that must be addressed in order to strengthen the military and ensure that the principles of the military career are respected. In this regard, the Minister of Defense, Henry Saenz, explained that part of the modifications are the new commands and brigades that have been created in the last week.
“The Army has begun to make a diagnosis and regarding the doctrine, it is moving in several directions in terms of organization, education and relations with other institutions or other countries,” the minister said.
The change in the academic part seeks to strengthen the Army’s Human Rights school, in addition to expanding the legal framework that governs the doctrine with the National Security Policy and the creation of the Defense Policy. It also aims to update the curriculum according to legal and international parameters.
“The significant change that we are going to adopt is that the defense of the State of Guatemala will no longer be status-centric, it will no longer revolve around the state, but rather it will be within the framework of democratic security circumscribed in the Central American Integration System. We are going to create an anthropocentric doctrine, it is already anthropocentric,” said Saenz.
Change of doctrine
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Mario Duarte, former Secretary of Strategic Intelligence, points out that the doctrine is based on laws, literature and military science obtained from the great pioneers of the French Revolution and the World Wars. He assures that the institution is recognized and respected internationally, even in peace missions, for being one of the most trained in Human Rights in the region.
“This would mean that if we as an Army were to separate ourselves from the military doctrines that are commonly accepted around the world, it would mean that we would not be accepted later in the groups with which we participate or we would not even be able to participate in peacekeeping missions,” he warned.
A source who asked not to be named said that academic content review could be accepted, especially regarding the politicization of the armed forces, so that members have political and current affairs studies to avoid being part of movements that promise to defend democracy and the republic.
Duarte acknowledges that in the past some figures linked to the institution have made mistakes, and that over the years cronyism has been allowed to weigh more than military career and meritocracy in achieving promotions.
“I believe that is what is most damaging to the Army, mainly because it is far from what we hear so much about from the Arévalo government at this moment, which is the famous meritocracy.” It is argued that the appointments of this government do not respond to the military ranking in which the high commands must be among the best eight in the promotion, an aspect that according to the expert did not occur.
He criticises that it is not so easy to choose the best according to their record from the beginning of their military career, because what usually happens is that promotions are chosen based on affinity or that high-ranking officers have political relations with some ministries. “That is not so easy to say if you have a log in your own eye,” he concluded.
It is still politics
Before the start of the government it was known that One of the lines of action was to make changes in the ArmyIn one of Arévalo’s books, it is mentioned that the authority of the ministry could be a civilian. In this regard, Saenz points out that in some countries it works that way, but in Guatemala the law must be followed.
“The Constitution of the Republic is what establishes the procedure for how the ministerial figure should be. But what I think is that we should let the law be enforced,” he said.
Mario Mérida, a retired officer, believes that although there are aspects that need to be reviewed within the military institution, it should be done in such a way that the institution remains focused on academic and technical matters, but without affecting the right of each member to have an opinion regarding the political situation. He agrees that appointments should arise from a presidential decision, based on the requirements established by law.
“Although they are called to be obedient, non-belligerent, apolitical, that does not mean that they know the political context and are capable of developing an impartial analysis that allows them to understand the current situation and the structural crises in order to always remain within the framework of the Constitution and the rule of law,” he stressed.
In this regard, he points out that it is necessary to maintain forums for dialogue in which officers can learn about the country’s situation through academic processes, also so that action can be taken as each member sees fit. This year, some active members filed legal actions before the Constitutional Court (CC) and he believes that this should be maintained, as long as it responds to legal bases so that these aspects can be resolved by the respective entities and the presidential decisions and powers can be seen from another perspective.
“The Army as such does not cease to be political, since it is within the framework of the minister’s work that we discussed, to be part of the Cabinet of Ministers,” he commented.
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Reform in the Guatemalan Army: A Shift towards Meritocracy and Democratic Security
Guatemala’s President Bernardo Arévalo has reiterated his commitment to reforming the country’s military, citing several weaknesses that need to be addressed to strengthen the institution and respect the principles of the military career. This move is seen as a crucial step in breaking away from the cronyism and politicization that have plagued the Army in the past [[2]].
A Diagnosis of the Current State
According to Arévalo, the Army has had interference from cronyism in promotions to key positions, leading to a lack of meritocracy in the institution. This has resulted in decisions being made based on affinity or political relations rather than military career and merit. Mario Duarte, former Secretary of Strategic Intelligence, agrees that cronyism has been a major obstacle, citing instances where figures linked to the institution have made mistakes and prioritized personal gain over military excellence [[3]].
New Commands and Brigades
To address these weaknesses, the Minister of Defense, Henry Saenz, has announced the creation of new commands and brigades, which will focus on organization, education, and relations with other institutions or countries. This move is expected to strengthen the Army and ensure that the principles of the military career are respected.
Strengthening Human Rights Education
The academic part of the reform seeks to strengthen the Army’s Human Rights school, expanding the legal framework that governs the doctrine with the National Security Policy and the creation of the Defense Policy. The goal is to update the curriculum according to legal and international parameters, promoting an anthropocentric doctrine that prioritizes human security over state-centric approaches [[1]].
International Recognition and Peacekeeping
Guatemala’s Army has a reputation for being one of the most trained in Human Rights in the region, with international recognition and respect for its participation in peacekeeping missions. Duarte warns that deviating from internationally accepted military doctrines could lead to the Army being excluded from future peacekeeping missions.
Maintaining Meritocracy and Political Neutrality
Retired officer Mario Mérida emphasizes the importance of maintaining forums for dialogue and academic processes that allow officers to understand the political context and develop impartial analysis. He believes that appointments should arise from presidential decisions based on legal requirements, rather than political affiliations or personal relationships.
Contextualizing the Reform
Guatemala’s military has a complex history, with periods of military dominance and politicization [[1]]. The current reform effort is seen as an opportunity to break away from this legacy and establish a more democratic and meritocratic institution. Arévalo’s commitment to reform is a key step in this direction, and the international community will be watching closely to see how this process unfolds.
the reform of the Guatemalan Army is a critical step towards strengthening the institution and promoting democratic security. By addressing the weaknesses of cronyism and politicization, the Army can become a more meritocratic and effective force, better equipped to serve the needs of the Guatemalan people.
References:
Guatemala’s Military Reforms: A Shift Towards Meritocracy and Human Rights
Guatemala’s President Bernardo Arévalo has been working on reforming the country’s army, identifying weaknesses and seeking to strengthen the institution. The efforts aim to ensure that the principles of military careers are respected, and cronyism is eliminated in promotions to key positions. This article explores the significance of these reforms, the changes being implemented, and the implications for Guatemala’s military and democracy.
The Need for Reform
The Guatemalan army has a history of political interference, dating back to the 1954 coup that overthrew the democratically elected government of Jacobo Árbenz [[2]]. This event marked the beginning of a long period of military rule, characterized by human rights abuses and authoritarianism. The legacy of these events continues to influence the country’s politics and military.
Cronyism and the Lack of Meritocracy
One of the significant weaknesses identified by President Arévalo is the prevalence of cronyism in promotions. This has led to a lack of meritocracy, where appointments are based on affinity rather than military career and merit [[3]]. Duarte, a former Secretary of Strategic Intelligence, criticizes this practice, arguing that it damages the army and undermines its credibility.
Reforms and Changes
To address these weaknesses, the government has introduced several reforms. The Army has begun to make a diagnosis, and regarding the doctrine, it is moving in several directions in terms of organization, education, and relations with other institutions or other countries. New commands and brigades have been created in the last week, and the academic part seeks to strengthen the Army’s Human Rights school.
New Doctrine and Human Rights
The significant change being adopted is the shift from a state-centric to an anthropocentric doctrine. This means that the defense of the State of Guatemala will no longer revolve around the state, but rather will be within the framework of democratic security circumscribed in the Central American Integration System [[1]]. The new doctrine aims to update the curriculum according to legal and international parameters, focusing on human rights and democratic values.
Resistance and Criticisms
Not everyone is convinced of the need for these reforms. Some argue that the changes will lead to politicization of the army, while others believe that the institution should remain focused on academic and technical matters. Mario Mérida, a retired officer, suggests that the reforms should be done in a way that respects the institution’s autonomy and allows members to have opinions on the political situation.
Conclusion
Guatemala’s military reforms are a significant step towards democratization and respect for human rights. The efforts to eliminate cronyism and promote meritocracy are crucial for strengthening the institution and ensuring that it serves the country’s interests. As the reforms continue to take shape, it is essential to monitor their implementation and ensure that they are carried out in a transparent and accountable manner.
References:
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GuatemalanCivilWar”>[2]
<a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Guatemala/The-postcolonial-period
