WASHINGTON, DC—Representative Eliot L. Engel, the leading Democrat on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and a former Chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, today was joined by Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA), Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Chairman Jeff Duncan (R-SC), and Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Ranking Member Albio Sires (D-NJ), in urging Guatemalan President Otto Pérez Molina to renew the mandate of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) when its mandate expires in September.
The CICIG was created in 2007 and has played a crucial role in combating powerful and violent criminal networks in Guatemala. It has also spearheaded reforms in the country’s justice system and helped to improve the investigative capacity of local police and prosecutors.
“As the United States ramps up our investment in Central America, we need to work with trusted institutions with track records of results. The CICIG has had a powerful impact in reducing extremely high levels of impunity in Guatemala. I urge President Perez Molina to renew CICIG’s mandate when it expires in September,” said Rep. Engel.
The text of the letter follows:
March 24, 2015
His Excellency Otto Pérez Molina
President of the Republic of Guatemala
Casa Presidencial
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Dear President Pérez Molina,
As friends of Guatemala in the United States Congress, we write to respectfully urge you to renew the mandate of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG).
The creation of the CICIG was a tremendous accomplishment for Guatemala. Since 2007, the CICIG has had an important impact in combating powerful and violent criminal networks that have long compromised the rule of law in Guatemala. In addition, the Commission has spearheaded major reforms of Guatemala’s justice system and bolstered the investigative capacity of local police and prosecutors.
We were particularly pleased by the CICIG’s recent success in working with your Attorney General to charge imprisoned former army official Byron Lima Oliva with running a multi-million dollar criminal network from behind bars. This is just one of many achievements that the CICIG has had since its creation.
Still, we think that much remains to be done to help bolster the capacity of the judicial system. Given its track record of success, we strongly believe that having an independent organization, such as CICIG, is the right way to help Guatemala counter organized crime and strengthen its criminal justice system. We also believe that the continued work of the CICIG can serve as an important contribution to the goals outlined in the Alliance for Prosperity in the Northern Triangle and provide needed accountability to achieve those goals.
As you are aware, the United States has been providing funding for the CICIG. If the mandate is extended, we will work with our colleagues and the Obama Administration to continue funding CICIG. We also will continue to urge our international partners to support the Commission. As you know, Sweden, the Netherlands, Canada and the European Union have all made important contributions.
The CICIG has a track record of success in Guatemala, and we believe much more can be accomplished if its mandate is extended. Thank you very much for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Eliot L. Engel
Ranking Member
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Edward R. Royce
Chairman
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Albio Sires
Ranking Member
House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
Jeff Duncan
Chairman
House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
Cc:
Thelma Esperanza Aldana, Attorney General
Mauricio López Bonilla, Minister of the Interior
José Felipe Baquiax, President of the Supreme Court of Justice and Judicial Body
Remberto Ruiz, Acting Director of the Public Defense Institution
###