The Guatemalan Congress voted today to create the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG, its acronym). The Washington Office on Latin America commends the Guatemalan lawmakers for their vote, which shows a determination to face the criminal structures that have undermined the rule of law in the country.
The Guatemalan Congress voted today to create the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG, its acronym). The Washington Office on Latin America commends the Guatemalan lawmakers for their vote, which shows a determination to face the criminal structures that have undermined the rule of law in the country.
"This decision is historic. Guatemala is showing a commitment to finally throwing off the bonds of organized crime and impunity that have eroded the rule of law and the faith of citizens in their institutions," said Adriana Beltrán, WOLA's Associate for Guatemala.
The existence of illegal groups and clandestine security networks is a well-known fact in Guatemala. A legacy of the country's long internal armed conflict, these clandestine groups use violence to infiltrate areas of government and protect their political and financial interests. They are widely believed to have links to government officials, former and active members of security forces, and other organized crime groups.
In recent years, these clandestine groups have terrorized judges, witnesses, prosecutors, political leaders and human rights defenders, among many others. These groups have undermined the judicial system and generated a climate of insecurity, creating the perfect environment in which corruption, violence and organized crime can breed.
Last December, the United Nations and the Guatemalan government jointly proposed to create a commission, the CICIG, that would probe the extent of these clandestine groups and provide information that could be used in legal action against them. With the Congress' approval now in hand, the CICIG can begin work at last.
"We hope this unprecedented decision translates into the prompt establishment of the CICIG, with the full cooperation of the Guatemalan political parties, state institutions, and civil society," said Beltrán.
The CICIG will be a catalyst to strengthen state institutions and help authorities take control of a phenomenon that has afflicted every sector of society. Guatemala needs to break with the prevailing culture of impunity and strengthen those institutions charged with upholding and enforcing the law. CICIG will help the government start that task.
"Rescuing state institutions, effectively combating impunity and the consolidation of the rule of law are urgent, necessary building blocks in the construction of democracy in Guatemala," added Beltrán.
During its initial life-span of two years, the UN-led commission will seek to determine the extent of illegal security groups and clandestine security organizations, their structure, forms of operation, sources of financing and possible links to state actors or other sectors. By assisting local institutions charged with investigating and prosecuting crimes, the CICIG will seek to promote the dismantling of these networks and prosecution of those involved in their illegal activities.
