This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GUATEMALA 000453 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM KCRM PGOV EAID ASEC SNAR KJUS GT
SUBJECT: GUATEMALAN PERCEPTIONS OF SOCIAL CLEANSING 
 
REF: 05 GUATEMALA 1745 
 
¶1. Summary:  The phrase "social cleansing" has entered wide 
usage in Guatemala, even though it is generally used to refer 
to vigilantism.  While no evidence has yet surfaced of a 
state policy of extrajudicial killings of undesirable 
elements -- the definition of social cleansing -- the Human 
Rights Ombudsman has requested a special commission to 
investigate possible police involvement in such activity. 
End summary. 
 
"Social Cleansing" in the Lexicon 
--------------------------------- 
¶2. As predicted reftel, the phrase "social cleansing" has 
entered wide usage in Guatemala.  The now common occurrence 
of multiple killings, complete with gruesome evidence of 
torture and mutilation, has led many observers to suspect 
organized campaigns to eliminate gang members, drug dealers, 
thieves, other social undesirables, and even gays.  "Social 
cleansing" refers to the extrajudicial killings of 
undesirable elements of society by state actors.  As there is 
no reliable evidence of state involvement, the phenomenon 
receiving so much recent attention would be more accurately 
referred to as "vigilantism". 
 
Gangs, Vigilantism, and High-Profile Examples 
--------------------------------------------- 
¶3. Government of Guatemala (GOG) authorities have long 
pointed to inter-gang and intra-gang violence to explain the 
numbers of suspected criminals found dead in Guatemala City 
and other municipalities.  While such violence is 
commonplace, it is now also common to find groups of victims 
dumped along roadsides, often with messages indicating the 
victims were thieves, drug dealers, or other types of 
criminals.  Some messages specifically state that the victims 
were killed in acts of social cleansing.  PNC data indicates 
that 218 victims showed signs of torture in 2005, compared to 
only 20 in 2004. 
 
¶4. In San Lucas Toliman, a town in the Solola Department, 
several bodies were found with such notes.  At the same time, 
a group calling itself the "People's Social Cleansing Group" 
began patrolling neighborhoods and demanding protection money 
from businessmen and landowners, and demanding that all young 
men "join" the organization by paying dues.  The group even 
issued receipts for money collected.  National Civilian 
Police (PNC) agents arrested seven leaders of the group for 
extortion and are investigating their links to local 
killings.  On February 9, seven bodies were found in Mixco, a 
satellite municipality of Guatemala City.  The bodies were 
lined neatly in a ditch, hands were tied behind their backs, 
and the bodies showed evidence of torture.  This case 
prompted Human Rights Ombudsman (PDH) Sergio Morales to call 
for a meeting of the Security Cabinet to discuss the 
phenomenon. 
 
Real "Social Cleansing"? 
------------------------ 
¶5. In 2005, Morales concluded that there was no evidence to 
support charges that the GOG was engaging in a policy of 
social cleansing, although it was possible that off-duty 
police, acting outside of their official roles, might be 
involved in organized violence against specific groups. 
Recently, however, PDH has requested that the Ministry of 
Government (Interior) establish a special commission to 
investigate 87 cases from 2005 that some actors allege may 
have had PNC involvement.  PDH officials told us that the 
allegations of PNC involvement were based on statements from 
witnesses, but that the majority of them would not file 
formal denouncements. 
 
¶6. PDH officials noted that characteristics of such 
vigilantism differed from inter-gang and intra-gang killings. 
 Gang affiliated killings, they opined, are committed with 
firearms or edged weapons, the bodies are found in 
gang-ridden neighborhoods, and there is no message 
accompanying the bodies.  Supposed social cleansing or 
vigilantism killings, on the other hand, are often committed 
by strangulation, show signs of torture, have the hands tied 
behind their backs, are dumped in areas distant from 
gang-ridden neighborhoods, and have anti-gang messages 
accompanying or written on the bodies. 
 
Levels of Violence 
------------------ 
¶7. Latin America, Morales continued, averages 30 violent 
deaths per 100,000 population.  Guatemala far exceeds that 
with a rate of 42 per 100,000, but even that number is 
dwarfed by the rates in the departments of Izabal and 
Escuintla, which have rates of 88 and 84, respectively. 
 
Comment 
------- 
¶8. We support the idea of a special commission to investigate 
these cases, given that little attention is paid to any 
patterns of violence in this country.  In addition to 
investigating the crimes, it would demonstrate a commitment 
to rule of law by the GOG that is not always apparent to the 
populace.  Presidential Commissioner for Human Rights Frank 
La Rue stressed that the GOG has no policy of social 
cleansing and PDH's Sergio Morales seconded the statement. 
We believe them, but the GOG will need to do a better job of 
protecting its citizenry.  That vigilantism is becoming more 
common seems clear; the GOG needs to do a better job of 
investigating and prosecuting such action as well as the 
underlying crime that encourages such vigilantism.  These 
events have prompted NGOs and the media to raise an alarm 
that, while accurate, fails to take into account the deeper 
problem of impunity for criminal action. 
 
¶9. The Mixco killings, along with several others of this 
type, indicate a level of organization much more 
sophisticated than mere gang-land slayings.  The list of 
potential culprits for this and similar cases is long and 
could include off-duty PNC, off-duty military, former police, 
former military, private security guards (three times more 
than police), ex-Civil Self Defense Patrols, organized crime, 
gangs, and bands of frustrated civilians. 
DERHAM