FMLN Supports the Increase in Troops but Not the Bill to Send Them to Afghanistan

    When the FMLN came into power they originally opposed the idea of a large Armed Forces. In fact, after the signing of the Peace Accords in 1992, the FMLN worked to reduce the number of Armed Forces. By the time that President Funes came into office, the number was down to 11,000 (El Faro). However, during his time in office Funes and his administration has passed three budget increases for the Ministry of Defense, which has allowed the number of Armed Forces to increase by 57%. At an additional $25 million a year, the Funes administration has allocated 6,300 seats in the armed forces so that it now totals roughly 17,000 soldiers. The increase is only expected to continue as the projected budget for the Ministry of Defense in 2012 is $144,000,000-a $29.4 million increase. The reason for the increase in the 2012 budget is that the Funes administration plans to hold a massive national recruitment aiming to recruit 5,000 at risk youth to send to "Citizen Education Centers" where they will be trained and receive a monthly stipend. When asked at what point will the government stop recruiting, the response was about 22,000, which will be double of what the Funes administration inherited and about 1,000 more than the National Civil Police.
    According to the former Minister of Defence David Munguia Payes, the reason for the increase in soldiers is to strengthen the National Civil Police in combating crime. The soldiers will be responsible for surveillance at penitentiaries and patrolling areas of high homicide rates throughout the country.
    Although the FMLN party is promoting military growth, they are not willing to support the decree to send more troops to Afghanistan. The previous decree expired in October of 2011 and the legislative body has developed a new one that will last until October of 2012. However, the FMLN party refuses to support it on grounds that "El Salvador has 'a moral obligation to the United Nations' because the international body helped El Salvador in the peace process" (El Mundo). The FMLN insists that Afghanistan is a country in conflict and by sending troops over they will be violating its sovereignty. The FMLN has always been opposed to infringing on another county's soveriengty, an example being Iraq (E.S. troops were stationed from 2003-2009). On the other hand, they are in favor of sending troops where there are signs of a peace process such as Haiti and Lebanon.
    Unfortunately for the FMLN, like with the Iraq situation, they were out voted. The WIN, PE, CN and ARENA parties voted in favor of the new decree that will send additional troops to Afghanistan until October 13 of 2012, totalling 43 votes against the 31 FMLN(La Prensa Grafica).
    The exact mission and number of soldiers to be sent will be determined by the Executive on a later date when he deems necessary.