René Merino Monroy

Minister of Defense of El Salvador (2019–present)

Vice admiral
René Merino Monroy
René Merino Monroy smiling, facing forward, and looking to the right.
Merino in 2022
31st Minister of National Defense
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 June 2019
PresidentNayib Bukele
Claudia Rodríguez (acting)
Preceded byDavid Munguía Payés
Chief of the Navy General Staff
In office
January 2015 – 1 June 2019
PresidentSalvador Sánchez Cerén
Personal details
Born
René Francis Merino Monroy

(1963-12-30) 30 December 1963 (age 60)
Santa Tecla, El Salvador
Political partyIndependent
Alma materCaptain General Gerardo Barrios Military School
OccupationMilitary officer
Military service
Allegiance El Salvador
Branch/serviceSalvadoran Navy
Years of service1990–present
RankVice admiral
Battles/warsSalvadoran Civil War
Iraq War
Salvadoran gang crackdown

René Francis Merino Monroy (born 30 December 1963) is a Salvadoran military officer who currently serves as the Minister of National Defense. He was appointed to the position by President Nayib Bukele in June 2019, becoming the first officer from the Salvadoran Navy to serve as minister of defense.

Merino entered the Captain General Gerardo Barrios Military School in 1986. He graduated in 1990 and was appointed to various administrative positions at the La Unión Naval Base and the Naval Force Headquarters. From 1995 to 2010, Merino transferred between various command positions and continued his military education both domestically and abroad. Merino held more administrative positions from 2011 to 2014 at the La Unión Naval Base and the Center for Naval Education and Instruction. He was the Chief of the Navy General Staff from January 2015 until his appointment to minister of defense in June 2019.

As minister of defense, Merino has supported Bukele's security policies, most notably the implementations of both the Territorial Control Plan, a government anti-crime and anti-gang security program, and the nationwide gang crackdown which has since resulted in the arrests of over 72,000 suspected gang members since March 2022. Merino was also involved in the 2020 political crisis when 40 soldiers were sent into the Legislative Assembly during an extraordinary session convened by Bukele. Merino's rank promotions to rear admiral in 2019 and vice admiral in 2020 resulted in controversy from lawyers regarding the maximum age for which military promotions are permitted by the Military Career Law.

Early life and education

René Francis Merino Monroy was born on 30 December 1963 in Santa Tecla, El Salvador.[1] He entered the Captain General Gerardo Barrios Military School (EMCGGB) in Santa Tecla in January 1986. In June, he transferred to Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia, studying to be a naval cadet, and later returned to the EMCGGB in December. In February 1987, he transferred to the Arturo Prat Naval School [es] in Valparaíso, Chile, where he continued his studies to be a naval officer until December 1989 when he returned to the EMCGGB. He graduated from the military school in March 1990.[1]

From January to July 1995, he studied the English language at the Armed Forces Language Center. From January to June 1996, he studied advanced infantry at the General Manuel José Arce Infantry School. He returned to the infantry school from January to June 2002 to study to become a member of the naval staff. From December 2002 to November 2004, Merino studied to become a member of the general staff at the Dr. Manuel Enrique Araujo Command and General Staff School. From July 2007 to June 2008, Merino continued his naval staff studies at the United States Naval War College. Merino returned to the Arturo Prat Naval School from February to November 2010 to continue his general staff studies.[1]

Military career

Merino's first assignment was the La Unión Naval Base from March 1990 to December 1991 as a commander of the coast guard during the Salvadoran Civil War. Merino served in various administrative positions during his time with the navy, which included being the chief of the Captaincy Department at the Naval Force Headquarters from January 1992 to December 1993, the chief of the Department of Academic Development for the Center at Naval Education and Instruction from January to December 1994, and the chief of the Department of Captaincies at the General Staff of the Naval Force from August to December 1995.[1]

René Merino Monroy signing a document
Merino as Chief of the Navy General Staff at the 2015 Marine Leaders of the Americas Conference in Colombia

In July 1996, Merino was briefly a company commander at the EMCGGB before becoming a company commander for the S-3 Presidential Battalion, where he served from August 1996 to August 1999. From September to December 1999, Merino was the maritime patrol commander of the La Unión Naval Base. From January 2000 to December 2001 and again from July to November 2002, he was the General Director of Captaincies at the La Libertad Port. From December 2004 to July 2007, Merino served as the chief of studies at the Center for Naval Education and Instruction.[1]

From June 2008 to February 2009, Merino served as a company commander of the Cuscatlán Battalion XI Contingent during the Iraq War. After returning from Iraq, he resumed his post as the chief of studies at the Center for Naval Education and Instruction which he held from February to June 2009. From June 2009 to February 2010, Merino was a member of the N-III Fleet staff. From January 2011 to June 2012, Merino was the director of the Center for Naval Education and Instruction. He later commanded the La Unión Naval Base from July 2013 to June 2014 and was a fleet commander from July to December 2014. Merino was appointed as the Chief of the Navy General Staff in January 2015[1] where he served until June 2019.[2]

Minister of National Defense

René Merino Monroy and Nayib Bukele in a meeting with members of the Armed Forces of El Salvador
Merino in a meeting with Bukele

In May 2019, then President-elect Nayib Bukele announced that he would appoint Merino as his minister of defense. Opposition politicians from the Nationalist Republican Alliance and the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front questioned Bukele's decision to choose Merino as he held the rank of navy captain (equivalent of a colonel) rather any rank equivalent to general.[3] Merino was sworn in as minister of defense on 1 June 2019,[4] succeeding Divisional General David Munguía Payés.[2] Merino was the first naval officer to assume the office.[5]

Security policies

Shortly after being sworn in as minister of defense, Merino promised that he would develop a strategy to combat crime and street gangs in El Salvador.[6] On 20 June 2019, the Salvadoran government announced the beginning of the Territorial Control Plan, a seven phase security program aimed at combating combating crime and street gangs.[7]

In March 2022, a spike of homicides occurred when 87 homicides were registered in a three day period. The Legislative Assembly convened an extraordinary session and approved the implementation of a 30-day "state of exception" which suspending some constitutional rights, increasing the amount of time individuals could be detained without trial, and allowing the government to monitor citizens' communications without warrants.[8][9] The ensuing gang crackdown, which has been extended 25 times as of April 2023[update],[10] has led to the arrests of over 78,000 suspected gang members as of 2 April 2024[update].[11] In January 2023, Merino announced that the government registered 496 homicides in 2022, a 56.8 percent decrease from 1,147 homicides in 2021. He attributed the decrease in homicides to the gang crackdown.[12]

Nayib Bukele and four of his government officials touring the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) before opening.
Merino (far-left) touring CECOT

On 1 February 2023, Bukele posted a video to Twitter showing him, Merino, General Director of Penal Centers Osiris Luna Meza, Director of the National Civil Police Mauricio Arriaza Chicas, and Minister of Public Works Romeo Herrera touring the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), a prison with the capacity to hold 40,000 inmates. CECOT was built to incarcerate those arrested in the country's gang crackdown.[13] During the tour, Merino presented the 1,000 guards, 600 soldiers, and 250 police officers which would be assigned to operate and secure the prison to Bukele.[14][15] CECOT opened on 24 February 2023,[16] and as of 9 July 2023[update], the prison holds over 12,500 inmates.[17]

On 15 September 2022, Bukele announced his intention to seek re-election in the 2024 general election.[18] Merino expressed his support for Bukele's re-election bid, stating that "the re-election of President Bukele would permit him to continue with the security policies" ("la reelección del Presidente Bukele permitirá seguir con las políticas de seguridad").[19]

Involvement in 9F

René Merino Monroy wearing a mask and presenting testimony before the Legislative Assembly regarding the events of 9F.
Merino testifying at the Legislative Assembly regarding the events of 9F

On 9 February 2020, Bukele ordered 40 soldiers to enter the Legislative Assembly meeting room after ordering an extraordinary legislative session to be held.[20][21] Bukele did this amidst then-ongoing resistance from the Legislative Assembly to approve a US$109 million loan from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration to fund the Territorial Control Plan.[22] The event was described the incident as an attempted coup and a self-coup by the opposition.[23][24]

On 21 August 2020, the Legislative Assembly summon Merino to testify regarding the events of 9 February 2020, which has since been referred to in El Salvador by the numeronym "9F".[25][26] Merino testified before the Legislative Assembly for 10 hours, during which, he stated he was ordered to send in the soldiers to provide security for the extraordinary session, but he refused to say who ordered him to do so. While being questioned by the Legislative Assembly, Merino stated that his purpose was to explain the use of soldiers and not to explain Bukele's "political act".[27]

Promotions

Nayib Bukele and René Merino Monroy riding in military vehicle while inspecting soldiers of the Salvadoran Armed Forces in 2019.
Bukele and Merino inspecting soldiers of the armed forces in 2019

In 2018, Merino sought promotion to the rank of rear admiral. Article 13 of the Military Career Law prevented him from doing so as he was 55 years old and the law prohibited promotions in rank past that age. Instead, he would automatically enter reserve status.[5] On 31 December 2019, Bukele promoted Merino to the rank of rear admiral.[28][29] Lawyers argued that Merino's promotion was illegal as it violated article 13 of the Military Career Law.[28] Merino defended his promotion, stating that "I didn't give it myself, they ordered it to me" ("no me lo receté yo, me lo ordenaron"). He added that "I submitted, like all my military promotion, to the pertinent evaluations, being evaluated by an evaluation and selection tribunal appointed in the previous administration" ("me sometí al igual que toda mi promoción militar a las evaluaciones pertinentes, siendo evaluados por un tribunal de evaluación y selección nombrado en la administración anterior").[30]

On 31 December 2020, Bukele signed General Order No. 12/020 which promoted Merino to the rank of vice admiral, the highest rank in the Salvadoran Navy. Although the general order did not enter into effect until 1 January 2021, Merino began wearing vice admiral insignia the day the general order was signed.[31]

COVID-19 pandemic

On 21 March 2020, the Salvadoran government implemented a mandatory 30-day nationwide lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19.[32] The armed forces and the National Civil Police were responsible for enforcing the lockdowns. Merino publicly announced exceptions to the lockdown orders which were decided by the Salvadoran government. He told citizens to be ready to present their national identity documents to expedite the military's and police's processes in verifying that they qualify for the exceptions.[33] In July 2020, Merino criticized the Legislative Assembly for refusing to allocate the government resources to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, warning that COVID-19 cases would only continue to rise. He also questioned the National Republican Alliance's proposal to implement quarantines within the country's municipalities, arguing that the party had previously opposed Bukele's proposals to implement quarantines.[34]

On 30 September 2020, Merino signed Accord No. 136 which established the Nu Tanesi Star, a medal awarded for actions which occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic and tropical storms Amanda and Cristobal. On 28 October 2020, he awarded the Nu Tanesi Star to ten ministry of defense officials, including himself.[35] Merino defended receiving the award, stating that "I did not give it [the award] to myself. It was given to me by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who did all the preparation, we only sign the document" ("No la he dado yo [la condecoración]. La ha dado el Estado Mayor Conjunto, quien hace toda la elaboración, nosotros solo firmamos el documento").[36]

On 12 March 2021, Merino, Arriaza, and Minister of Health Francisco Alabí received a shipment of 33,600 COVID-19 vaccines at the Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez International Airport which were delivered to the country by UNICEF.[37] Merino received the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine on 29 March 2021 at the San Salvador Military Hospital along with other officials of the ministry of defense.[38] He also confirmed that over 13,800 members of the armed forces and National Civil Police had been vaccinated.[39]

Personal life

Merino had a son, frigate Lieutenant Gerardo Antonio Merino Marroquín.[40] During his tenure as Naval Chief of the General Staff, Merino was accused of having given favors to his son.[5] On 11 September 2018, he was charged with nepotism alleging that he acquired slots in the Trident group (the navy's elite unit) for his children, but the charges were never pursued.[27] Merino's son and two other military personnel died on 2 December 2021 when their Beechcraft 58 Barron crashed into the Pacific Ocean.[41]

Awards and decorations

Merino has received the following military awards.[1][35]

 El Salvador

  • 1980–1992 Military Campaign Medal
  • Gold Medal of Merit (x2) (1999 and 2009)
  • Mare Nostrum Medal
  • Nu Tanesi Star (2020)

 Chile

  • Minerva Medal

 Nicaragua

  • Medal of Honor to Naval Merit (2015)

 Taiwan

  • Medal of Honor

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "01. – Vicealmirante René Francis Merino Monroy (Vigente)" [01. – Vice Admiral René Francis Merino Monroy (Current)] (PDF). Government of El Salvador (in Spanish). 13 January 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Bukele Nombra Nuevo Ministro de Defensa y Acaba la Era Munguía Payés" [Bukele Appoints New Defense Minister and the Munguía Payés Era Ends]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 1 June 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  3. ^ Galdámez, Eddie (15 July 2020). "Rene Merino Monroy. Defense Minister of El Salvador". ElSalvadorInfo. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  4. ^ Alas, Liseth (1 June 2019). "Estos son los Funcionarios que Integrarán el Gabinete de Nayib Bukele" [These are the Officials that will make up Nayib Bukele's Cabinet]. El Diario de Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  5. ^ a b c Bernal, David (1 June 2019). "Un Coronel de la Fuerza Naval Dirigirá por Primera vez el Ministerio de Defensa" [A Colonel from the Naval Force will lead the Ministry of Defense for the First Time]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  6. ^ Marroquín, David (11 June 2019). "Ministro de Defensa Dice que hay que Hacer un Cambio de Estrategia en el Combate a las Pandillas" [Defense Minister says a Change in Strategy Must be Made in the Fight Against Gangs]. El Diario de Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  7. ^ Gómez, René (20 June 2023). "Plan de Control Territorial Inicia en Centro Histórico de San Salvador" [The Territorial Control Plan Begins in the Historic Center of San Salvador]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  8. ^ Reed, Betsy (28 March 2022). "El Salvador Locks Down Prisons After Wave of 87 Killings Over Weekend". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  9. ^ "El Salvador declares state of emergency after gang killings". Al Jazeera. 28 March 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  10. ^ Reyes, Magdalena (9 April 2024). "Asamblea Aprueba la 25° Prórroga del Régimen de Excepción" [The Assembly Approves the 25th Extension of the State of Exception]. La Noticia SV (in Spanish). El Salvador. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  11. ^ "El Salvador Minister Says 75% of Gang Members Arrested". Barron's. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  12. ^ Renteria, Nelson (3 January 2023). "El Salvador Murders Plummet by Over Half in 2022 Amid Gang Crackdown". Reuters. San Salvador, El Salvador. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  13. ^ Romero, Fátima (1 February 2023). "Bukele Presenta "la Cárcel más Grande de América" para 40,000 Reos" [Bukele Presents "the Biggest Prison in America" for 40,000 Inmates]. Bloomberg Línea (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  14. ^ Bukele, Nayib (2 February 2023). "Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo | #CECOT" [Terrorism Confinement Center | #CECOT]. YouTube (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  15. ^ Murray, Christine; Smith, Alan (6 March 2023). "Inside El Salvador's Mega Prison: The Jail Giving Inmates Less Space than Livestock". Financial Times. Mexico City and London. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  16. ^ Quiej, Bessy (24 February 2023). "Videos | Presidente Nayib Bukele Confirma Envío de 2 Mil Pandilleros al CECOT" [Videos | President Nayib Bukele Confirms More than 2 Thousand Prisoners in CECOT]. La Página. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  17. ^ Urbina, Javier; Portillo, Denni (12 September 2023). "Megapenal de Tecoluca Será Vigilado por Juzgados de Usulután y Cojutepeque" [Mega-Prison of Tecoluca Will Be Monitored by Courts in Usulután and Cojutepeque]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  18. ^ Renteria, Nelson; Morland, Sarah; Madry, Kylie (16 September 2022). Wong, Jacqueline; Perrett, Bradley (eds.). "Despite Prohibition, El Salvador President Bukele Says he will Seek Re-Election". Reuters. San Salvador, El Salvador. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  19. ^ "Ministro de Defensa: "La Reelección del Presidente Bukele Permitirá Seguir con las Políticas de Seguridad"" [Minister of Defense: "The Reelection of President Bukele Will Permit the Continuation of the Security Policies"]. Diario la Huella (in Spanish). 16 September 2022. Archived from the original on 2 January 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  20. ^ García, Jacobo (10 February 2020). ""Si Fuera un Dictador Habría Tomado el Control de Todo el Gobierno Anoche"" [If I was a Dictator, I Would Have Taken Control of the Entire Government Last Night]. El País (in Spanish). Mexico. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  21. ^ Vivanco, José Miguel (14 February 2020). "President Bukele, Brute Force Is Not the Way Forward for El Salvador". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  22. ^ Campos Madrid, Gabriel (1 August 2023). "Bukele Presentó Fase III del Plan Control Territorial" [Bukele Presented Phase III of the Territorial Control Plan]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  23. ^ "El Salvador Parliament Denounces President's "Attempted Coup"". BBC. 11 February 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  24. ^ Amaya, Alba Miriam (8 February 2021). "El Impacto del 9F en la Cultura Democrática de El Salvador" [The Impact of 9F on the Democratic Culture of El Salvador]. DW News (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  25. ^ Velásquez, Eugenia (21 August 2020). "Finaliza: Ministro de Defensa se Rehúsó Revelar Quién le Ordenó Militarizar la Asamblea el 9 de Febrero" [Finalizes: Minister of Defense Refused to Reveal who Ordered Him to Militarize the Assembly on 9 February]. El Diario de Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  26. ^ Avelar, Ricardo (22 August 2020). "5 Momentos Clave de la Interpelación del Ministro de Defensa, Merino Monroy" [5 Key Moments in the Interpellation of the Minister of Defense, Merino Monroy]. El Diario de Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  27. ^ a b Rauda, Nelson (28 August 2020). "Salvadoran Defense Minister: President's General Staff Responsible for 9-F Military Incursion". El Faro. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  28. ^ a b García, Enrique (2 January 2020). "Ministro Merino Ascendido a Contra Almirante" [Minister Merino Promoted to Counter Admiral]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  29. ^ "René Francis Merino Monroy es Ascendido a Contra Almirante" [René Francis Merino Monroy is Promoted to Rear Admiral]. La Página (in Spanish). 31 December 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  30. ^ Marroquín, David (2 January 2020). ""No me lo Receté yo, me lo Ordenaron". Ministro Merino Monroy Defiende su Ascenso a Contra Almirante de la Fuerza Naval" ["I Did Not Give it to Myself, They Ordered It." Minister Merino Monroy Defends His Promotion to Rear Admiral of the Naval Forces]. El Diario de Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  31. ^ Beltrán Luna, Jorge (4 January 2021). "Ministro de Defensa fue Ascendido al Grado de Vicealmirante" [Minister of Defense was Promoted to Rank of Vice Admiral]. El Diario de Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  32. ^ Mena, Alejandra (21 March 2020). "Decretan Cuarentena Domiciliar Obligatoria en El Salvador por 30 Días" [Mandatory Home Quarantine Decreed in El Salvador for 30 Days]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  33. ^ Arévalo, Mariana (23 March 2020). "¿Quiénes Pueden Salir y Bajo qué Condiciones Durante Cuarentena Domiciliar por Coronavirus en El Salvador?" [Who Can Leave the House and Under What Conditions During the Nationwide Lockdown for Coronavirus in El Salvador?]. El Economista (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  34. ^ "Ministro de la Defensa Afirma que Plan Sanitario de Alcaldías no Bajará la Curva de COVID-19" [Minister of Defense Affirms that Mayor's Health Plan Will Not Lower the COVID-19 Curve]. Government of El Salvador (in Spanish). 6 July 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  35. ^ a b Beltrán Luna, Jorge (2 November 2020). "Ministro de Defensa se Declara Héroe y se Condecora por su Rol en la Pandemia" [Minister of Defense Declares Himself a Hero and Awards Himself a Medal for His Role in the Pandemic]. El Diario de Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  36. ^ Laguán, Jonathan (3 November 2020). "Ministro de Defensa Sobre Condecoración Recibida: «No la he Dado Yo. La ha Dado el Estado Mayor Conjunto»" [Minister of Defense Regarding the Award He Received: "I Did Not Give It to Myself. The Joint Chiefs of Staff Gave Me It"]. Diario El Salvador (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  37. ^ "El Salvador Receives First Doses of COVID-19 Vaccines Through COVAX Mechanism". UNICEF. San Salvador, El Salvador. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  38. ^ Jordán, Laura (29 March 2021). "Ministro de Defensa, René Merino Monroy, Recibe Vacuna Contra el COVID-19" [Minister of Defense, René Merino Monroy, Receives Vaccine Against COVID-19]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  39. ^ Villarroel, Gabriela (26 March 2021). "Más de 13,800 Militares y Policías ya Fueron Vacunados Contra el COVID-19" [More than 13,800 Soldiers and Police Officers Have Been Vaccinated Against COVID-19]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  40. ^ Cáceres, Mirella (23 February 2021). "Ministro de la Defensa Sin Explicar Caso de su Hijo, Reportado por Ingerir Licor en una Brigada Militar" [Minister of Defense Unexplained Case of his Son, Reported for Drinking Liquor in a Military Brigade]. El Diario de Hoy (in Spanish). p. 1. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  41. ^ Rodríguez, Alfredo; Ramírez, Karla; Alvarado, Irvin (2 December 2021). "Localizan Cuerpo de Hijo del Ministro de Defensa y Otros dos Tripulantes de Aeronave Militar Accidentada (+Video)" [They Locate the Body of the Son of the Minister of Defense and Two Other Crew Members of an Accident Military Aircraft (+ Video)]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 December 2021.
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