Argentina Seeks to Involve Armed Forces in Domestic Security

Voices are rising against President Mauricio Macri's decision to involve the Armed Forces in public order, including human rights organizations and groups of victims of the military dictatorship.

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“We observe with great concern the various attempts to impose as a necessity the inclusion of the Armed Forces in activities related to internal security,” said Hijas E Hijos de Genocidas.

“When they talk about 'fight against terrorism,' they talk about repression of social protest, when they mention 'fight against drug-trafficking,' they mean repression of social protest. During six years, the military government justified the most horrendous crimes with the pretext of the fight against terrorism, including crimes against humanity, in order to impose an economic model protecting the interests of the oligarchy and international economic groups.”

“The Armed Forces are prohibited from getting involved in issues of internal security,” said the Center of Legal and Social Studies, or CELS, in a statement. “This new paradigm builds the idea of internal enemies and increases violence. Involving Armed Forces in interior security puts at risk the civilian government and human rights.”

Former Defense Minister Agustin Rossi also criticized the reform, saying that it required the “modification of three pillars of Argentina's democratic laws,” referring to the Defense bill, the Interior Security bill and Intelligence Services bill. “Otherwise it would be illegal. As a result, this reform must go through the National Congress.”

“Since 1983, separating National Defense and Domestic Security is a key state policy in our country. Involving the Armed Forces in drug trafficking issues is illegal. In Mexico, Colombia or Brazil, this policy failed,” he added on Twitter.