By Brenda Lopez Romero
Impunity Watch reporter – North America desk

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – The International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala needs more support and must include the ability to go after corruption and organized crime.

The Commissioner, Carlos Castresana Fernández, noted that due to their work about 2,000 police officers, or 15 per cent of the force, have been discharged on corruption charges and one Attorney General, 10 Prosecutors and three Supreme Court Justices had been dismissed for lack of cooperation.  Additionally, 130 people had been jailed, including a former President as well as former Ministers of Defence, Finance and Interior.

Guatemala engage international support to strengthen its ability to provide structural protection for its citizens against human rights violations by non-state actors in the country.

Rigoberta Menchú, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate; Eduardo Stein, former Vice-President of Guatemala; and Gonzalo Marroquín, Director, Prensa Libre, and Vice-President, Inter-American Press Association are assisting the Commission’s interactions with the society to increase its credibility among the citizens.

Ms. Menchú said “the country was still living with the aftermath of 36 years of civil strife, and implementation of the peace agreement was only possible if impunity could be fought.”  Mr. Stein also noted that the Commission was started at the request of Guatemala as a member of the international community due to its legitimate concern for its citizens and to improve its justice system.  He emphasized that in 2009 there were about 6,000 assassinations, but fewer than 600 charged were being prosecuted, and the Commission has helped address this impunity.

However, the Commission’s mandate is ending and the remaining tasks are up to the Guatemalans citizens to control.

For more information, please see:

Guatemala Times – UN Commission in Guatemala fight against impunity needs more support – 20 April 2010

Taiwan News – Progress in UN fight against Guatemala corruption – 20 April 2010

UN News Centre – UN-backed war on impunity in Guatemala should be strengthened – commission head – 20 April 2010