Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07GUATEMALA1541
2007-08-01 22:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Guatemala
Cable title:  

GUATEMALAN CONGRESS APPROVES CICIG AS MATTER OF NATIONAL

Tags:  PHUM PGOV KJUS EAID SNAR KCRM UN OECD PREL KDEM GT 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0011
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGT #1541 2132258
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 012258Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3456
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0151
RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO PRIORITY 4439
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0034
UNCLAS GUATEMALA 001541 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PARIS PASS TO USOECD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KJUS EAID SNAR KCRM UN OECD PREL KDEM GT
SUBJECT: GUATEMALAN CONGRESS APPROVES CICIG AS MATTER OF NATIONAL
URGENCY

REF: GUATEMALA 1461 AND PREVIOUS

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 001541

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PARIS PASS TO USOECD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KJUS EAID SNAR KCRM UN OECD PREL KDEM GT
SUBJECT: GUATEMALAN CONGRESS APPROVES CICIG AS MATTER OF NATIONAL
URGENCY

REF: GUATEMALA 1461 AND PREVIOUS


1. Summary: On August 1, the Guatemalan Congress voted to approve
the GOG-UN agreement to establish the International Commission
Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) as a matter of national
urgency. The agreement will be sent to the Executive for final
approval by the president. End summary.


2. On August 1, the Guatemalan Congress approved the GOG-UN
agreement to establish the International Commission Against Impunity
in Guatemala (CICIG) as a matter of national urgency. The Foreign
Affairs Committee had rejected the agreement on July 18 by a narrow
margin (13-8),sending it back to plenary for a vote (reftel).


3. The CICIG agreement passed by a wide margin, with 110 votes in
favor (including UNE and Partido Patriota),5 in opposition
(including Movimiento Reformador),and 5 abstentions. The FRG and
the Unionista Party, which opposed CICIG, walked out during the
vote. Government officials, political leaders, and civil society
groups hailed the decision as ground-breaking in the fight against
impunity and insecurity.


4. At the beginning of the August 1 session, Congress voted to
reject the July 18 recommendation of the Foreign Affairs Committee
and to send the agreement to the congressional Human Rights
Committee for consideration. Immediately following the vote, which
showed a wide margin in favor of CICIG, president of Congress Ruben
Dario Morales made the decision to move the agreement forward as a
measure of national urgency. The agreement will now be sent to the
Executive for final approval by the president.


5. It appears that opponents of CICIG made one last ditch effort to
close the legislative session before the CICIG vote. A source close
to president of Congress Morales told us that the police came to the
president's office, telling him that there had been a bomb threat
and that he would have to evacuate the building. The police
officers were insistent and presented a written "oficio" (demand).
Morales thanked them for the warning but decided to hold the vote
before telling the legislators of the bomb threat.


6. Comment: The vote was the culmination and affirmation of six
years of efforts by the U.S. and others in the international
community in support of CICIG and its precursor CICIACS. It is now
critical that we identify funding for the start-up costs of getting
the mission on the ground soonest.