5 September 2018
International organisations in Europe that cooperate on Guatemala
condemn the decision of President Jimmy Morales not to renew the mandate of the International
Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), as well as the subsequent decision
whereby its Commissioner, Iván Velásquez, has been barred from entering the country, which
put at serious risk the justice system and the rule of law. The CICIG has contributed significantly
to the work of the Public Prosecutor’s Office and to fighting the corruption networks embedded
in the state of Guatemala, but there is still a long way to go before the latter really has strong and
independent institutions. We are concerned that as a result of this decision, the judicial
processes initiated by the CICIG will remain inconclusive, and that the networks of corruption
will regain full control of the state. Therefore, we consider that international accompaniment
and support for the CICIG, including Commissioner Iván Velásquez as well as for the other
key Guatemalan institutions working to uphold the rule of law, such as the Public Prosecutor’s
Office, independent judges, and the Human Rights Ombudsman, remains imperative.
