latin america’s armed forces
2019: A Retrospective
THE ARMED FORCES’ ROLE
IN an era
OF UNREST
THE ARMED FORCES’ ROLE
IN an era
OF UNREST
A wave of political turmoil in the second half of 2019 put regional militaries in the spotlight, raising questions about their role in politics and evolution on human rights.
Ecuador
October 8
In a televised address, flanked by military top brass, President Lenín Moreno defends his initial response to violent protests over his elimination of fuel subsidies. Unrest continued, and Moreno later deployed the army to enforce a curfew in the capital. Photo: YouTube
Bolivia
November 13
Jeanine Áñez shakes hands with Bolivia’s new army commander after the military pressured President Evo Morales to resign. After the entire line of succession resigned, Senator Áñez became interim president in a congressional vote – without Morales’ MAS party. Photo: Aizar Raldes/AFP/Getty
PERU
October 1
President Martín Vizcarra meets with his joint chiefs of staff and the commander of the National Police of Peru after he moved to dissolve Congress, provoking a leadership crisis. Congress responded by suspending Vizcarra on grounds of incapacity, but the military and the police publicly backed the president. Photo: Andres Valle/Presidencia Peru/Getty
CHILE
October 20
Surrounded by military leaders, President Sebastián Piñera goes on TV and extends a state of emergency that sent soldiers into the streets for the first time since Chile’s return to democracy. “We are at war,” he said after a hike in subway fare sparked violent protests. Photo: El Mostrador/Facebook
CHILE
October 21
A soldier guards a subway station in Santiago, Chile, after a weekend of protests saw violent demonstrations, including the burning of multiple stations. Photo: Esteban Felix /AP
Venezuela
October 24
A woman addresses members of armed forces’ National Guard during a protest over power cuts in Caracas. Photo: Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Getty
Ecuador
October 7
A woman passes by soldiers near a roadblock set up by protesters in Quito. A transport strike in response to the government’s elimination of fuel subsidies, which doubled the price of diesel, pushed the president to declare a state of emergency. Photo: Dolores Ochoa/AP
COLOMBIA
November 26
Soldiers patrol near a march after the death of 18-year-old student Dilan Cruz, who died after being injured by a riot police projectile during a protest over access to education. Photo: Guillermo Legaria/Getty
