CICIG under attack in Guatemala
No one ever likes when foreign individuals or states interfere in their country's domestic politics. In Guatemala, conservative forces supported US efforts to overthrow Arbenz in 1954 but then didn't really want much to do with the US after that. Well, that not exactly true.
They accepted US counterinsurgency support but were not interested in any lessons about human rights that were supposed to come along with that assistance. They wanted postwar assistance to help rebuild following the civil war, but did not want any advice with regard to how they should restructure their tax system. They were open to support in strengthening the country's institutions, including the judiciary, as long as it didn't interfere with their business and as long as that support didn't lead to prosecutions for former military officers for their role in human rights atrocities.
On the left, Guatemalan rebels wanted political and military support from Cuba, of which they received some, but they did not want to take Cuba's advice when Castro told them to negotiate an end to the conflict in the early 1980s. They weren't about to sacrifice their dreams so that Cuba and Nicaragua could be more secure.
In the postwar, it is again a mixed bag. The US intervenes too much in its political and economic system, except when it is supporting CICIG, labor standards, and promoting human rights.
Well, things now seem to be at another level in Guatemala as criminal and conservative forces have escalated their smear campaign against the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) and its commissioner, Iván Velásquez.
CICIG's mandate was recently extended to 2019. It has (at least or at most?) two more years to follow through on several high-level prosecutions (Perez Molina, Baldetti, and Stalling) institution building programs. CICIG continues to have support from the US Congress and the Trump administration but I would be worried about the latter. Secretary of State Tillerson and the new administration have been supportive of CICIG and I very much hope that support continues. However, conservative Guatemalan forces will most likely have more receptive ears in the White House.
They accepted US counterinsurgency support but were not interested in any lessons about human rights that were supposed to come along with that assistance. They wanted postwar assistance to help rebuild following the civil war, but did not want any advice with regard to how they should restructure their tax system. They were open to support in strengthening the country's institutions, including the judiciary, as long as it didn't interfere with their business and as long as that support didn't lead to prosecutions for former military officers for their role in human rights atrocities.
On the left, Guatemalan rebels wanted political and military support from Cuba, of which they received some, but they did not want to take Cuba's advice when Castro told them to negotiate an end to the conflict in the early 1980s. They weren't about to sacrifice their dreams so that Cuba and Nicaragua could be more secure.
In the postwar, it is again a mixed bag. The US intervenes too much in its political and economic system, except when it is supporting CICIG, labor standards, and promoting human rights.
— Iván Velásquez Gómez (@Ivan_Velasquez_) February 8, 2017
Well, things now seem to be at another level in Guatemala as criminal and conservative forces have escalated their smear campaign against the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) and its commissioner, Iván Velásquez.
According to the head of the commission, the campaign began in 2015 but has intensified over the past few weeks. Velásquez said false rumors have circulated that there is a warrant out for his arrest in Colombia, his native country. Another rumor being spread on social media is that Velásquez has been removed as commissioner of the CICIG, according to La Hora. The Secretery General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, denied that claim and publicly supported the work of Velásquez and the commission.
The US Embassy in Guatemala also showed its support for Velásquez.Unfortunately, President Morales has not been that outspoken when it comes to supporting CICIG. But, then again, neither was Otto Perez Molina. Domestic and international pressure forced Perez Molina to capitulate.
CICIG's mandate was recently extended to 2019. It has (at least or at most?) two more years to follow through on several high-level prosecutions (Perez Molina, Baldetti, and Stalling) institution building programs. CICIG continues to have support from the US Congress and the Trump administration but I would be worried about the latter. Secretary of State Tillerson and the new administration have been supportive of CICIG and I very much hope that support continues. However, conservative Guatemalan forces will most likely have more receptive ears in the White House.
Post a Comment