Quite the eventful week in Guatemala. Former President Colom's arrest feels so long ago.
Quite the explosive week in Guatemala. On Tuesday, former President Alvaro Colom and much of his cabinet were arrested on corruption charges. The charges stem from Transurbano, a public bus system developed around questionable concessions to private bus companies. Former finance minister and now chairman of Oxfam International, Juan Alberto Fuentes Knight, was also taken into custody.
Colom is no stranger to corruption. His campaign received drug money that he had to return. And it was an open secret that after losing his first two presidential campaigns, he owed a lot of people when he finally won. It's possible that his arrest will quiet those on the Guatemalan political right who have been accusing CICIG and the MP's office of only going after right-wing officials. Their claim did not make sense before Colom's arrest, and makes even less sense now.
A bipartisan letter from members of the U.S. Congress called on Guatemalan officials to take corruption seriously...in order to protect U.S. business interests in the country. It strikes me as kind of an odd letter. Is it just me or does it read more America First, more economic interests, than previous bipartisan letters of concern to the region?
On Thursday, unknown assailants fired shots against the vehicle of the country's deputy human rights prosecutor, Sonia Elizabeth Montes Valenzuela. Montes Valenzuela is currently in charge of the case against former dictator Efrain Rios Montt.
Finally, prosecutors arrested former organized crime prosecutor Rony Lopez. Lopez is accused of having participated in a scheme to illegally seize properties. The scheme involved a judge, politician, and several other individuals. The current charge seems to be obstruction of justice. Herberth Armando Melgar Padilla, the politician arrested, is close to President Jimmy Morales.
There's very little in Guatemala that has not been touched by corruption. No one's arrest should surprise anyone. Nor should anyone be surprised by organized crime's efforts to thwart the establishment of a true rule of law in Guatemala. Passive U.S. support from the Trump administration has been welcomed, given what could have been the alternative, but passive isn't going to cut it.
Colom is no stranger to corruption. His campaign received drug money that he had to return. And it was an open secret that after losing his first two presidential campaigns, he owed a lot of people when he finally won. It's possible that his arrest will quiet those on the Guatemalan political right who have been accusing CICIG and the MP's office of only going after right-wing officials. Their claim did not make sense before Colom's arrest, and makes even less sense now.
A bipartisan letter from members of the U.S. Congress called on Guatemalan officials to take corruption seriously...in order to protect U.S. business interests in the country. It strikes me as kind of an odd letter. Is it just me or does it read more America First, more economic interests, than previous bipartisan letters of concern to the region?
On Thursday, unknown assailants fired shots against the vehicle of the country's deputy human rights prosecutor, Sonia Elizabeth Montes Valenzuela. Montes Valenzuela is currently in charge of the case against former dictator Efrain Rios Montt.
Finally, prosecutors arrested former organized crime prosecutor Rony Lopez. Lopez is accused of having participated in a scheme to illegally seize properties. The scheme involved a judge, politician, and several other individuals. The current charge seems to be obstruction of justice. Herberth Armando Melgar Padilla, the politician arrested, is close to President Jimmy Morales.
There's very little in Guatemala that has not been touched by corruption. No one's arrest should surprise anyone. Nor should anyone be surprised by organized crime's efforts to thwart the establishment of a true rule of law in Guatemala. Passive U.S. support from the Trump administration has been welcomed, given what could have been the alternative, but passive isn't going to cut it.
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