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The head of the Honduran Armed Forces, Roosevelt Hernández , reacted this Sunday to the questions raised by different sectors following his statements in favor of the Tax Justice Law promoted by the government of President Xiomara Castro.
According to the military chief, the issue of economic security is directly related to national defense. Therefore, the Tax Justice Law “is an issue of economic security and economic security is national defense, it is our responsibility,” said Hernandez.
On October 12, during a promotion ceremony, Hernández spoke in favor of the Tax Justice Law , an initiative of the current government that is currently being debated in the National Congress and that does not have the support of some sectors.
Members of the National Party have rejected the military leader’s statements, criticising him as a political position and the Armed Forces as constitutionally mandated, an apolitical and non-deliberative institution, and are therefore seeking to present a motion to question him.
In this regard, Hernandez responded that his statements are not aimed at proselytism, but at “supporting (a) public policy that leads to the common good.”
The military chief also stated that the Armed Forces do not only defend themselves with weapons, but also “with the power of words” and that it is essential to generate “that national awareness where we all must contribute to reduce these poverty rates” in Honduras.
Hernández also stressed that “the enemies are sometimes not outside, but inside.” In this context, he mentioned organized crime and corruption as problems that “weaken” and “destroy the country.”
He also stressed that “the defense of the national territory is a multidimensional issue” that encompasses a series of challenges that go beyond the conventional.
In his defense, the military chief also paraphrased a biblical verse from John 3:16, saying that “loving one’s country is materialized by two main things: giving and giving one’s best,” since “the Armed Forces are characterized by giving and giving their best.”
He insisted that national defense is a public policy supported by the Constitution of the Republic and that “nothing outside the Constitution” will be allowed.
Hernández concluded the topic by stating that “Honduran society knows perfectly well” that the Armed Forces are guarantors of compliance with the law and respect for the Constitution.
Meeting with the United States
Regarding the recent meeting with representatives of the United States, the military chief commented that “the results serve to strengthen us and further strengthen these ties of trust.”
He revealed that they are in the process of “acquiring and repairing radars” and that they have made “60-70%” progress in manufacturing their own radars, which will allow them to improve their monitoring capacity on the coast of La Mosquitia.
“We hope to fulfill our goal of not allowing a single gram of cocaine to enter our national territory,” he said
