President Correa: “Ecuador already changed and its Armed Forces can not be beyond regulation”

President Rafael Correa chaired on January 20 the ceremony of replacement of the current former Commander of the Navy, Luis Jaramillo, and appointment of his successor in office, Luis Santiago Chávez. He also took the opportunity for addressing to opposition politicians and “old guard” militaries who have questioned what, he said, they consider the limited government work in the Armed Forces.

He began highlighting the increase in the salaries of members of troops and officers. He said that in 2006 a soldier received a payment of $ 118, which increased to $ 819 in 2010 and $ 933 in 2014. He also recalled the constitutional changes proposed to Article 158, which would redirect the mission of the Armed Forces for support in the comprehensive security.

Correa qualified as a positive change the fact of having defense ministers of civil society and made a call to the soldiers and officers “to be aware of the new times in the country.” “We all have renew ourselves (…) Ecuador already changed and its Armed Forces can not be beyond regulation.”