The Ministries of Interior and Defense They signed this Friday the agreement by which the loan of armored vehicles is enabled of the Army to support the Police in security operations in dangerous neighborhoods.
The signing of this agreement was reported by the Minister of the Interior, Carlos Negroafter the meeting of the Council of Ministers this Friday.
“We have just signed an agreement with the Ministry of National Defense by which They make up to 12 armored vehicles of 5 different models available to the National Policewhich They will be driven by police personnel duly trained in driving.“Black announced.
Days ago, in the Security Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, The minister had told legislators that there would be 12 Mamba model vehicles —donated by the United States government— at the disposal of the Policebut now the universe of vehicles to lend is expanded to five models that the National Army has.
Although police officers will be trained to operate these military vehicles, Negro pointed out that the agreement includes the possibility of a “military driver” fulfilling that function, under a “service commission regime.”.
Given these parameters, the minister maintained at the conference that “the promulgation of a legal provision is not appropriate or necessary“and that those that already exist, such as the Military Organic Law or the Civil Code, “They allow a loan of vehicles as a commission of services by military personnel in driver duties“.
The latter had been claimed by some opposition leaders, who maintain that a law is necessary to implement this cooperation.
Asked about the details of which models will be available to the Interiorthe Minister of Defense, Sandra Lazo, responded at the conference that “they are the five that the Ministry of National Defense has”.
“The five types of armored vehicles that the Ministry of National Defense has will be defined through what the operation requires and will be in agreement with the Ministry of the Interior,” said the minister.
Specifically asked about model vehicles Mamba, Lazo responded that “of course” they were included in the agreement.
As he knew The Observer According to military sources, in addition to the Mamba, the other four troop transport vehicles that the Army has in operation are the Vodnik VML-M7, EE-11 URUTU, RPZ Cóndor and Mowag.
After signing the agreement, Defense gave the order to the Army to make four RPZ Cóndor model vehicles available to the Police for the beginning of cooperation between both forces.
Both Negro and Lazo ruled out that this agreement implies a “militarization” of security policy.
“Talking about militarization is something that does not correspond, it is not contemplated in the National Security Plan nor is it the responsibility of the Ministry of Defense,” said Lazo.
Negro, for his part, stressed that “in no way” can we speak of “militarization” when the agreement establishes the use of military vehicles under the orders of the Police.
In the event that a soldier has to drive the vehicle, Negro pointed out that he can be armed, since —as do police officers and civilians with permission— These are people who have authorization to carry a weapon.
“As you can use it, you can also do it for your defense.“, responded the minister when asked what could happen if a confrontation occurs.
In those situations, he added, he could rely on legitimate defense.
