Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07GUATEMALA426
2007-03-01 18:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Guatemala
Cable title:  

CICIG AGREEMENT SENT TO GUATEMALAN CONGRESS FOR

Tags:  PHUM PGOV KJUS SNAR EAID PTER ASEC KCRM GT ES 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0017
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGT #0426/01 0601832
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 011832Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2041
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 4035
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0126
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000426 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR S/P MCILHENNY
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN AND IO/UNP
DEPT FOR DRL/ILCSR
DOL FOR CROMERO, PCHURCH, AND LBUFFO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KJUS SNAR EAID PTER ASEC KCRM GT ES
SUBJECT: CICIG AGREEMENT SENT TO GUATEMALAN CONGRESS FOR
APPROVAL

REF: A. GUATEMALA 403


B. GUATEMALA 375

C. GUATEMALA 348

D. GUATEMALA 185

This is sensitive but unclassified. Protect accordingly.

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000426

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR S/P MCILHENNY
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN AND IO/UNP
DEPT FOR DRL/ILCSR
DOL FOR CROMERO, PCHURCH, AND LBUFFO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KJUS SNAR EAID PTER ASEC KCRM GT ES
SUBJECT: CICIG AGREEMENT SENT TO GUATEMALAN CONGRESS FOR
APPROVAL

REF: A. GUATEMALA 403


B. GUATEMALA 375

C. GUATEMALA 348

D. GUATEMALA 185

This is sensitive but unclassified. Protect accordingly.


1. (U) Summary: In the wake of last week's highly publicized
and brutal killings of three Salvadoran parliamentarians and
four Guatemalan police officers suspected of carrying out the
killings, the Berger Administration delivered to the
Guatemalan Congress the agreement to establish the
International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (ref
D). These recent killings, which highlighted the urgent need
to combat organized crime and end the culture of impunity in
Guatemala, may give CICIG some legislative momentum. End
summary.


2. (U) The Berger Administration sent to the Guatemalan
Congress on February 27 the agreement with the UN to
establish the International Commission Against Impunity in
Guatemala (CICIG),requesting its immediate ratification.
President Berger, in a televised address to the nation, said
Guatemala's enemy is "the crime that feeds off
narcotrafficking." He acknowledged that over the years
mafias had taken control of territory for the trafficking and
production of narcotics, of ports and customs for contraband,
of financial institutions for money laundering, and of
prisons as a refuge for masterminding criminal operations,
and "worse yet, in association with some members of the State
and even of the security forces."


3. (U) Berger asked Congress to expedite approval of CICIG by
designating it a matter of national urgency. Congress on
February 28, however, failed to muster the two-thirds vote
required to put the CICIG agreement on a fast track as a
"national emergency measure," which would have allowed it to
go to a plenary vote without passing through committees. The
CICIG agreement has therefore been assigned to the Foreign
Relations Committee headed by Zury Rios of the FRG, which is
opposed to CICIG and has 7 of the 21 votes in committee.
Berger also requested Congress approve legislative proposals
to purge and professionalize the National Civilian Police.


4. (U) If approved, CICIG, led by a UN-appointed Commissioner
and assisted by international investigators, would support
Guatemalan institutions with investigation and prosecution of
crimes committed by "illegal security groups" and
"clandestine security organizations" (i.e., organized crime).



5. (SBU) Foreign Minister Rosenthal told the Ambassador
February 27 that President Berger decided to move forward
with CICIG in response to the February 19 murder of three
Salvadoran representatives to the Central American Parliament
and subsequent murder of four National Civilian Police
officers allegedly involved in the assassination (refs A, B,
and C). Rosenthal believed the GOG had the votes in Congress
to approve the agreement.


6. (U) Although Guatemalans have grown accustomed to a daily
news diet of gruesome murders, these recent highly publicized
killings sent shock waves through Guatemala because they
exposed the extent to which organized crime has penetrated
the police. They prompted widespread criticism from both
Guatemalans and Salvadorans and highlighted the country's
growing insecurity and violence and the urgent need to combat
organized crime and narcotrafficking. According to a recent
poll, 90 percent of Guatemalans have no confidence in the
National Civilian Police.


7. (SBU) Comment: Last week's killings are widely believed to
link the police to organized crime and may give CICIG some
legislative momentum. If CICIG is approved by Congress, the
USG (which has long been promoting the establishment of CICIG
and its predecessor CICIACS) will be expected to join other
donors in providing funding for the Commission. Post urges
Department consider announcing our intention to provide
funding for CICIG as soon as it is approved by the Guatemalan

Congress.
Derham