Growth of Central American Armies Poses Threat to Democratic Stability Agencia EFE
go to original August 24, 2016

Governments in Central America, one of the world's most violent regions, are expanding the role of their militaries in civilian affairs and increasing their weaponry, thus posing a threat to democracy, an expert told EFE.

"This strengthening of the armed forces does not come in response to national security problems," Alberto Mora, the coordinator of the "State of the Region Report," said in an interview, adding that "it implies risks for democratic stability."

The 5th "State of the Region Report" points out that 80 percent of illicit drugs in transit from Central America to Mexico pass through Guatemala, that in El Salvador powerful gangs protect drug trafficking and that 79 percent of flights moving drugs from South America land in Honduras.

Between 2004 and 2014, Central American governments have spent $2.015 billion on purchases of weapons and military equipment from the United States on the grounds that the effort is necessary to combat drug trafficking and organized crime in the region.

Strong, well-equipped and professional armies are not a threat per se to democratic stability, Mora said, but in Central America the situation is peculiar.

In a context of weak court systems, rampant human rights violations, an almost endemic "fragile rule of law" and "feeble internal checks and balances," strong armies become a danger for democracy.

Read the rest at Fox News Latino

Photo: CIP Americas

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