Buenos Aires – The Argentine government plans to “reduce the power” of the armed forces chiefs as part of a restructuring of the military, the La Nacion newspaper reported Sunday.
The military overhaul plan, which was crafted by the Defense Ministry, will be announced Monday, which is Army Day in this South American nation.
The chiefs of the various branches “will not be able to make decisions on promotions, purchase materiel or authorize training exercises” under the proposed reforms, according to the newspaper.
The joint general staff will “assume the majority of the powers” now held by the heads of the army, navy and air force, La Nacion said, citing military sources.
The new system will be similar to that employed in the United States, according to the newspaper.
Defense Minister Nilda Garre said recently that the government was looking to “recover the control over defense that had been delegated to the officers.”
The report about the military overhaul, which is expected to be implemented at the end of this year, came two days after the army punished six soldiers with up to 40 days arrest for taking part last Wednesday in a public ceremony honoring the soldiers and civilians killed by guerrillas in the 1970s.
During the ceremony at the Plaza San Martin in Buenos Aires, attended by about 3,000 people, speakers criticized the human rights policy of President Nestor Kirchner’s administration and insulted army chief Gen. Roberto Bendini.
“The soldiers made political statements that insulted the army chief. Soldiers must follow strict rules that were violated at the ceremony,” Garre said.
