Bolivia prepares law for "exceptional" use of armed forces against organised crime
The Bolivian Government announced a law that will allow the Armed Forces to act against organised crime and narcoterrorism. The measure will be exceptional, temporary and controlled.
Bolivian Armed Forces could combat organised crime under new law
The Government of Bolivia announced on Wednesday the drafting of a law that would authorise the Armed Forces to intervene in an "exceptional" manner against transnational organised crime and narcoterrorism, according to infobae.com.
President Rodrigo Paz, together with Defence Minister Ernesto Justiniano and Economy Minister Christian Morales, as well as senior military commanders, presented the measure following a session of the Supreme Council of Defence of the Plurinational State (Cosdep).
Justiniano detailed that the Cosdep approved four regulations in total. One of them explicitly establishes the participation of the Armed Forces to confront "serious" threats from organised crime. This participation will be, according to the minister, "exceptional, temporary, complementary and controlled within the constitutional framework".
The Defence Minister emphasised that the objective is to provide the State with "greater capacity" to confront "complex threats" with "clear rules" and "full respect for institutional order".
The four regulations, which the Government describes as the "foundation" of the State's security and defence system, will first be sent to the Unit for Analysis of Economic and Social Policies (Udape) for technical review, and then to the Legislature for consideration and possible approval.
President Paz stated that organised crime "is transversal" and justified Bolivia's integration into the so-called "Shield of the Americas", the coalition promoted by the Donald Trump Government. Paz defined the accession as a "balanced, equitable collaboration" against organised crime that, in his words, "is entering institutions and has the capacity to undermine the rule of law".
The head of state also made reference to an action carried out the previous week: the detention and subsequent imprisonment of former Attorney General Roger Mariaca, accused of allegedly leading an organisation providing protection to narcoterrorists.
The Cosdep was launched in mid-September with the objective of advancing legislation that guarantees the identification of threats and the fight against narcoterrorism and organised crime. The body, which falls under the Defence Ministry, is the highest advisory, consultation and planning entity for integral security and defence in Bolivia.
Source: Google News BO — Crime