wr2014_web_0

AMERICASUse of Military in Public Security OperationsIn November 2011, Congress passed an emergency decree allowing military personnelto carry out public security duties, which has since been extended periodically.In August 2013, Congress passed a law authorizing the creation of amilitary police force with powers to seize control of violent neighborhoods andcarry out arrests, among other duties, despite a history of abuse by the militaryagainst civilians.Judicial and Prosecutorial IndependenceIn December 2012, the Supreme Court’s Constitutional Chamber ruled that alaw governing police oversight, which had support from a majority in Congressand the president, was unconstitutional. Shortly thereafter, Congress removedfour of the chamber’s five members for unsatisfactory “administrative conduct.”Replacements were appointed in January 2013, and the Supreme Court rejecteda legal challenge by the dismissed judges in February. The Council of theJudiciary, an independent body established by a 2001 constitutional reform toappoint and remove judges, could help protect against political interference injudicial processes, but at time of writing, its members had still not beennamed.In April 2013, Congress suspended Attorney General Luis Rubi and his chiefdeputy, and appointed an intermediate commission to serve in their place,pending an investigation into the office’s effectiveness and alleged corruptionwithin it, a power granted to Congress by a 2002 constitutional reform. Rubiand his deputy resigned in June before the investigation was completed.Lack of Accountability for Post-Coup AbusesFollowing the June 2009 military coup, the de facto government suspended keycivil liberties, including freedom of the press and assembly. In the ensuingdays, security forces responded to generally peaceful demonstrations withexcessive force and shut down opposition media outlets, which caused severaldeaths, scores of injuries, and thousands of arbitrary detentions. A truth commissionestablished by President Porfirio Lobo published a report in July 2011261