Guatemalan President Faces Increased Human Rights Issues

By Andrew Benfield
Senior Desk Officer, North America

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – Dutch MP Kathleen Ferrier completed a visit to Guatemala that span from February 2 through February 7.  With the inauguration of Alvaro Colom as the new Guatemalan president, Ferrier claims that Guatemala is on its “last chance for real change.”  Recently, President Colom has received criticism for his failure to adequately address poverty issues in Guatemala.  The criticism stems from President Colom’s campaign promises to propose legislation to combat poverty issues. 

In the past five years, the security for human rights defenders in Guatemala has deteriorated.  During these five years, nearly 50 human rights activists have been killed.  These deaths are part of a broader scheme of violence that has caused almost 26,000 civilian deaths over the same time span.  Contributing factors to these civilian deaths include “unequal income distribution, rampant violence and organized crime.”  The people committing these acts have enjoyed almost complete impunity. 

Hina Jilani, a special representative of the United Nations secretary-general, has criticized the “selective and inefficient” protection of human rights defenders.  Jiliani claims that Guatemalan police themselves have furthered the attacks on these activists.  Furthermore, prosecutors’ failure to investigate reported cases has lead to increased violence toward activists.  Political figures and the media have focused attention on human rights activists in an attempt to criminalize the activists. 

The most frequently targeted groups in Guatemala are trade unions, journalists, lawyers, women and peasants’ organizations.  However, according to Jilani all sectors of the Guatemalan human rights community “suffer from rights abuses and attacks.”  Trade unions have complained about a “state of policy against the labor movement.”  Peasant farmers claim they have been violently evicted from their land by “police and private security agents.”

In order to combat these human rights abuses Guatemala must “firmly condemn” the attacks on human rights activists and “acknowledge the importance” of the work these activists do.  Furthermore, there must be more coordination between investigating organizations within Guatemala. 

An International Commission against Impunity (CICG) was established as President Colom began his term in office.  The Commission will help advice courts and “help law enforcement agencies record the activities of illegal criminal gangs.”  The CICG will attempt to “dismantle illegal, clandestine security groups” that have “infiltrated state institutions, including the justice system.” 

For more information, please see:

Inter Press Service – Rights-Guatemala: Defenceless Defenders – 21 February 2008

NIMD – Human rights and impunity in Guatemala – 20 February 2008

BBC News – Guatemala ‘to open war archives’ – 26 February 2008