Whereas the police have reached a crisis point, tarnished by one corruption scandal after another and deeply discredited in the public eye, the general population, in a state of psychosis as crime rates soar, calls on the government to “send in the army”. The army is being portrayed as a panacea for drug trafficking, urban violence and social unrest, as can be seen by the Colom administration's repeated use of the armed forces to quell disturbances in various parts of the country. Some analysts argue that the army is merely filling the gap left by a weak and corrupt police force whereas others say that weakening the police is part of a deliberate strategy to give the army a greater role.

The Salvadoran police is undergoing a phase of turmoil and uncertainty with two changes in its leadership this year. After former director Rodrigo Ávila left the National Civil Police (PNC) in order to run for president with the National Republic Alliance (ARENA) party, he was replaced in February this year by Francisco Rovira. However, Rovira was forced to resign after it emerged that he had hired two consultants with dubious track records. This latest scandal has highlighted, once again, the corruption of El Salvador's police force. Civil society organizations and the Human Rights Ombudsman's Office are now calling for an urgent police reform.

By Marta Nocete Aguilar

Translated by Adam Amin

Nicaragua's municipal elections began on a violent note, as clashes broke out between government supporters and the opposition in the department of León on September 20. According to press reports, supporters of Daniel Ortega linked to the Councils of Citizen Power (CPC) tried to stop an anti-government march, leading to clashes in an area that has traditionally been a bastion of Sandinismo. Four days later, the municipal elections were formally launched with 150 mayorships up for grabs. The most hotly contested mayoralship is in Managua, as this position serves as sort of referendum on the national government..

CAFTA was due to come into effect in Costa Rica on September 30. However, the controversial free trade agreement which led millions of Costa Ricans to take to the streets in protest, has been delayed yet again until December 31 this year. The government has tried its best to evade a mandatory indigenous referendum in which the country's native population must vote on whether or not it agrees with the treaty. With most indigenous communities strongly against CAFTA, the issue has been a thorn in the side for the Arias administration. But after the Constitutional Court recently ruled that the indigenous referendum must be held in accordance with the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 169, the government has been left with little choice but to comply.

By Matthew Brooke

On September 30, the government unveiled the proposal for the 2009 budget, which will be debated and possibly approved before the end of the year. The budget's considerable size has attracted the attention of opposition parties and civil society, who say the significant increase over the previous budget, coming in the midst of an election campaign, is a political play. Opposition parties fear that the boost is an effort by the official party to improve its image, while many doubt that the government, tainted by corruption scandals as it is, should have more funds at its disposal.

By Matthew Brooke

Translated by Adam Amin