GUATEMALA: 2005 TERRORISM REPORT

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000109

SIPDIS

FOR S/CT - NICK NOYES

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER GT
SUBJECT: GUATEMALA: 2005 TERRORISM REPORT



1. There were no significant acts of international terrorism
in Guatemala in 2005. The Government of Guatemala (GOG) has
supported the war on terrorism in international fora such as
the UN and OAS and cooperates fully with the United States.
Guatemala ratified the Inter-American Convention Against
Terrorism in October 2005. The deployment of a GOG
Interagency Task Force to the northern Peten Department
during the final months of 2005 represented an important
government effort to begin to secure control of its northern
border with Mexico.


2. Severe resource constraints, corruption, and an
ineffective criminal justice system are some of the
impediments facing Guatemala in its struggle against
transnational crime threats such as drug trafficking and
alien smuggling. Guatemala's northern border with Mexico
lacks effective coverage by police or military personnel, and
controls at its southern and eastern borders with El Salvador
have been relaxed as part of the Central American integration
process. Guatemala lacks the technology and manpower to
effectively monitor transit of possible international
terrorists. Nevertheless, Guatemalan authorities provided
strong cooperation to U.S. requests for assistance in the
investigation of possible terrorism leads. Deployment of the
Interagency Task Force North, as mentioned above, is
providing a newly effective GOG presence in the previously
lawless northwest border region.


3. Guatemalan authorities have responded favorably to
requests for enhanced security of official U.S. property and
personnel on an as-needed basis. Guatemalan law enforcement
authorities do not have wiretapping authority, but this
deficiency is being addressed in legislation pending before
the Guatemalan Congress. Law enforcement authorities can
initiate physical surveillance of terrorist suspects, but the
police have limited capabilities. Military intelligence
personnel were involved in counterterrorism investigations in
the past, but recent military personnel and budget reductions
have greatly reduced military intelligence capabilities, and
the military is legally and politically constrained from
significant participation in any internal security roles
other than support for police patrols. Terrorism suspects --
like detainees suspected of any other type of crime -- can
only be held for six hours without being charged.


4. Guatemala has continued to strengthen its anti-money
laundering and terrorism finance regime since removal from
the Financial Action Task Force list of Non-Cooperative
Countries in July 2004. The GOG Financial Intelligence Unit
(IVE) is an active partner of USG and multi-lateral efforts
to track terrorism finance and reduce financial sector
vulnerabilities. There is no credible evidence of terrorism
financing in Guatemala; and the GOG, along with private
financial sector actors, actively cooperates in looking for
such funds. Anti-Terrorism Finance legislation passed in
August of 2005 strengthens the government's ability to react
to and deter terrorism financing and complies with
international standards.


5. Guatemalan civil aviation and port authorities have been
very responsive to U.S. requests for assistance in
investigating potential terrorism leads. The Guatemalan
Government is currently working to enhance overall maritime
and aviation security and counterterrorism capabilities in
order to remain in compliance with rising international
standards. However, organized crime and smuggling rings
continue to operate in Guatemala's principal ports and
airports, and, together with corruption, pose an ongoing
security threat.


6. Guatemala is a party to 10 of the 12 United Nations
conventions and protocols related to terrorism and to one OAS
counterterrorism convention.
DERHAM