UN concerned over Guatemalan’s decision to terminate anti-corruption commission

Published by BBN Staff at September 5, 2018

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Posted: Wednesday, September 5, 2018. 9:38 am CST.

BBN Staff: The United Nations Secretary-General was yesterday informed of the decision taken by the Guatemalan President, Jimmy Morales to not renew the mandate of the

International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG).

Morales has also barred CICIG’s commissioner Ivan Velasquez from entering Guatemala.

The CICIG is a United Nations supported anti-corruption commission that has been working in Guatemala to convict corrupt government ministers and officials.

The UN secretariat issued a statement saying that the CICIG and its commissioner play a pivotal role in the fight against impunity in Guatemala.

“The UN Secretariat has serious concerns about this decision, which it is currently reviewing and which does not appear to be consistent with the Agreement on the establishment of CICIG,” the statement explained.

UN Secretary-General, António Guterres has asked Velasquez to continue at the helm of CICIG from outside Guatemala until there is more clarity on the situation.

Furthermore, the secretary general encourages the Guatemalan government to continue to search for a solution through dialogue in the framework of article 12 of the Agreement establishing CICIG.

Velasquez was out of the country to attend previously scheduled meetings in the United States.

The commission has been instrumental in bringing down corrupt parliamentarians and root out corruption in the country. The delegation comprises of foreign experts and has worked with top Guatemalan prosecutors. In 2015, former President Otto Perez Molina was forced to resign and remains in prison.

Morales’ announcement was made last week Friday as Guatemalan military officials and soldiers surrounded the headquarters of CICIG office in Guatemala City.

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