Civilians Keen to Redefine Role of Military

[Judi Lynn]

Civilians Keen to Redefine Role of Military
By Thelma Mejía

TEGUCIGALPA, Apr 1, 2011 (IPS) - Reasserting effective civilian control over the Honduran armed forces, after a coup that overthrew President Manuel Zelaya in June 2009, will require constitutional reform and a greater grasp by society on defence issues.

This is the view of academics, analysts and retired military officers, who told IPS the time has come to put a stop to the "remilitarisation" of society. The political leadership "has neglected" the issue and has left "sensitive and vital areas to the military," said Víctor Meza, interior minister under Zelaya.

Meza, now head of the Honduran Documentation Centre (CEDOH), a think tank, said addressing these issues in the context of the post-coup crisis is still a sensitive area "but Honduras must embark on a process of democratic reconstruction, in which the armed forces must be less authoritarian, more subordinate and more accountable."

CEDOH is promoting a project for debating and proposing policies to strengthen civilian control of the armed forces and defence matters in Honduras, in order to put them on the public agenda and contribute academic knowledge.

More:
http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=55102

[Peace Patriot]

1. Excellent analysis of one of the two major problems in Honduras--the military!

The other is the oligarchy. Both funded/supported by the U.S. government, which inevitably backs fascists and militarists in Latin America and opposes, and seeks to undermine and destroy, democracy and social justice.