Paraguay President Sacks Head of the Armed Forces

By Ryan C. Kossler

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

 

ASUNCION, Paraguay – After receiving warnings of a possible coup, Paraguay’s president, Fernando Lugo, dismissed Rear Admiral Ciber Benitez, head of the armed forces, in what has become a highly controversial decision.  Benitez’s removal comes just days after President Lugo replaced the heads of the army, navy, and air force.  President Lugo warned that there were “pockets of coup-plotters” in the military. 

 

This latest move by President Lugo makes for four separate senior military changes since he took office fifteen months ago.  The President’s office issued a statement saying that the changes were part of a “normal and legal administrative process,” and that the President had the authority to make these changes and that “there [was] no reason [the changes] should be the subject of speculation.”

 

Local media have reported that the dismissal of Benitez stemmed from rumors of a meeting between senior military figures and the political opposition.  Opposition to President Lugo have speculated that Benitez’s dismissal is yet another attempted power grab by President Lugo in order to stay in office. 

 

In an interview by Al Jazeera’s Teresa Bo, President Lugo responded to his opposition by stating that “the change in the military [is to give] an opportunity to the exceptional young officers that should also have chance [to be senior officers].  We don’t want to interfere in their chances to participate in the changes in the country.  Those are the essential motivations behind the changes that took place in the military structure here in Paraguay.”  President Lugo’s stated reasoning however, does not seem to be based on solid ground, as Benitez was already set to retire in December. 

 

President Lugo also acknowledged in the same interview that a coup was highly unlikely.  President Lugo stated that while a coup was highly unlikely “there are a few people that continue to have a relationship with politicians nostalgic of the past that could adventure into something like that, even if I think it impossible.”

 

There is rising opposition in congress to Lugo’s presidency, with politicians critical of his policy hoping to get a two-thirds majority to constitutionally remove Lugo from office.

 

For more information, please see:

 

AFP – Paraguay army chief sacked amid coup rumors - 6 November 2009

 

Al Jazeera – Paraguay armed forces chief sacked - 6 November 2009

 

BBC – Paraguay leader sacks army head - 6 November 2009