Guatemala News

The current political crisis in Guatemala has had two important positive effects so far:

 

CICIG, International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala
This crisis has increased the support and legitimization for the mandate of CICIG, the UN International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala. Even the staunchest opposition that the CICIG has had to face in Guatemala, the most conservative and traditional power sectors, are finally accepting the important role of CICIG as a necessary instrument to strengthen the justice sector. The usual opposition to CICIG is now demanding that CICIG investigates the case of murdered lawyer Rosenberg. This is a very important development to ensure that the investigations of CICIG will receive more support and less opposition and obstruction in the investigation of it's cases.
Without this crisis, the very strong opposition of the conservatives regarding CICIG´s mandate would have been a constant obstacle and impediment to it´s investigations.

The possible passing of the new election law of postulation, nomination and election of magistrates
President Alvaro Colom, under pressure by the current crisis has made the passing of the law of the postulation process of Magistrates a priority for legislation in Congress. The Congress is under pressure to pass the law and not only pass the law, but to make sure the law will have the necessary strength to be effective and will not be watered down into oblivion. CICIG made very concrete suggestions about this law.
The most prominent pro justice groups in Guatemala and Congresswomen Nineth Montenegro who presented the law originally in the Congress are hopeful that the law can be passed now.

The nomination of magistrates for the elections is in the hands of Guatemalan Lawyers Association, The Deans of Law Schools of the Universities of the country and the Rectors of the Universities in Guatemala. The election of the nominated candidates is in the hands of the Congress.
From the beginning this law has faced strong opposition from Congress and other sectors interested in maintaining the status of impunity in Guatemala. The Magistrates currently in place have strongly opposed a modification to the election process of new magistrates, many of them want to be re-elected, they went so far as to pass a decree of their own to protect the current obscure mechanisms of nomination and election.
The Board of Directors recently elected to the Guatemalan Lawyers association also has refused to accept any proposal to bring more transparency to the nomination and election process. The election of the Guatemalan lawyer's association board of directors is extremely politicized.

The most prominent players and opinion makers in the reformation of Guatemala's justice system have all agreed that this new law is necessary and is the key to start to break the circle of impunity. All have expressed their support and hope for this new law: Amerigo Incalcaterra representative of UNHCHR, Carmen Aída Ibarra from Myrna Mack Foundation, Ana María de Klein from Madres Angustiadas, Sergio Morales, Guatemala's Ombudsman, Renzo Rosal, independent political annalist, Oscar Clemente Marroquin Director of the Newspaper "La Hora", and many others distinguished personalities.

The sectors of Guatemalan society who have so loudly and eloquently expressed their demands for justice, should be out there today in front of the Congress in full force, demonstrating to demand that the law should be passed today and without any more intents to reduce it's "teeth's".

Where are the demonstrators today?

 Picture: Presidential Press Office