http://www.guatemala-times.com/news/guatemala/1697-guatemala-squeezed-between-crime-and-impunity.html
Guatemala: Squeezed between Crime and Impunity
TUESDAY, 13 JULY 2010 13:20
The article Guatemala: Squeezed between Crime and Impunity is from the Guatemalan Times and is on the subject of crime and corruption. The article explains how the country’s crime rate is spiralling out of control, and how the large number of corrupt officials is allowing these crimes to go unpunished, often assisting the illegal operations, and puts forth the CICIG (International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala) as one of the few hopes to solving the growing crisis.
The article notes how most of the crime has developed out of the 1996 peace accord, where although the initial violence was slowed, the root causes such as corruption where left alone, which ultimately benefited a small group of economic, military, and political elites. This change is said to have brought on a very violent environment in Guatemala, where there was 6500 murders in 2009, and Mexican drug traffickers and other illegal traffickers (ex: human) have entered into the country. This has lead to increased gang activity, police corruption, and an ultimately unstable environment. In addition, the lack of prosecution has made Guatemala “a paradise for criminals”.
I read up on CICIG, and they are a UN-sanctioned institution whose main goals are to basically Investigate and find illegal organizations and their ties to corrupt officials, help prosecute these criminals and officials, and help develop the Guatemalan justices sector by giving them the tools, advice, and assistance needed to make their involvement in Guatemala beneficial past their exit date, Sept 2011.
I think that corruption in Guatemala should be seen as close to the dominant problem in Guatemala since it hinders any progress made in any other issue such as gang violence, illegal trafficking, business relations, and political unity. Even if a perpetrator is caught, the chances of them being convicted are minute. This decreases the risk for criminals, as well as attracting crime from across the border. As far as the solution proposed, CICIG, I have mixed feeling about it. I do agree that international assistance will most likely be needed since some of the individuals in the positions of power to address these problems have been found to be involved themselves. What does concern me however, is that this whole situation reminds me slightly of the idea/theory that the conflict in the middle east, specifically Iraq and Afghanistan, is just a reason for western powers (namely the USA) to involve themselves in Middle Eastern politics. My argument being that CICIG could possibly have an alternative agenda, such as supporting certain politicians and policies which will in turn positively affect Western economic and geopolitical interests. I realize that this is a pretty big stretch to make, but it would not be the first time Western interests have tried to influence politics in Guatemala (ex: United Fruit Co. 1954).
Ultimately however, I do feel that CICIG has the right idea in its goals and methods are aimed at the needed areas for positive change in regards to corruption and conviction. Although I don’t think that they will be able to accomplish anything significant by September 2011, and that their exit date should be much further away.
sean brown
I found this subject interesting...albeit slightly frustrating and upsetting! I agree with Sean that the CICIG has the right idea, but what always haunts us (as people who evaluate those reportedly trying to make a difference and help) is the question of how much is being invested in a project/program/plan in order to receive some kind of benefit or to pursue ulterior motives (in contrast to altruistic helping)?
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, this whole situation goes back to what we have been discussing in class regarding the extremely low level of taxation by the Guatemalan government. If public sector workers are not being paid that much because the government is not generating enough revenue through taxation to increase their salaries, it will always be a struggle to deter these officials from being corrupt. If the cushion they need to their salaries and lifestyles can be found in back-door dealings, why will they aim to do the lower-paying, less benefit-ridden "right thing"?
This is where I think it's important that programs to tackle corruption (and any other programs to “correct” problems) are bottom-up rather than imposed by foreign actors, because maybe then people will be more invested in the changes. In class, it was mentioned that the person in charge of communication between CICIG and the government quit because the Guatemalan government failed to support their initiatives (more observation of government officials and cutting down on back-door dealing; reforming the military; etc.). Since those being affected by the plan did not go along with it, the program proved to be unsustainable and a waste of time, money and resources. Not to mention, the problem still exists and is attracting more people daily.
Another point brought up in class was the fact that this UN-sanctioned group came in trying to help but did not do anything that was deemed useful by the receivers of this help, such as creating jobs. These are all things that need to be taken into account when providing aid and assistance...hopefully we can keep these ideas in mind when we do our NGO work in Guatemala.