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Military Reform – 2004

The Government decided to reduce the number of troops and officers in the Armed Forces from 27,000 to 15,500, to reduce the military budget to 0.33% of GDP, and to accelerate base closings consistent with a reorientation toward external defense only. The EMP was finally replaced by the SAAS and the Ministry of Defense publicly introduced a new military doctrine based on human rights. Civilian regulation of military and intelligence structures was yet insufficient, however.¹ As of 2004, the military declined by 1,000 personnel to 30,000.²

1. “United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala: Report of the Secretary-General,” United Nations General Assembly (A/59/307), August 30, 2004.
2. D. Scott Bennett and Allan Stam, “EUGene: A Conceptual Manual.”