VZCZCXYZ0017
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGT #0426/01 0601832
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 011832Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2041
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 4035
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0126
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000426 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR S/P MCILHENNY 
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN AND IO/UNP 
DEPT FOR DRL/ILCSR 
DOL FOR CROMERO, PCHURCH, AND LBUFFO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KJUS SNAR EAID PTER ASEC KCRM GT ES
SUBJECT: CICIG AGREEMENT SENT TO GUATEMALAN CONGRESS FOR 
APPROVAL 
 
REF: A. GUATEMALA 403 
 
     ¶B. GUATEMALA 375 
     ¶C. GUATEMALA 348 
     ¶D. GUATEMALA 185 
 
This is sensitive but unclassified.  Protect accordingly. 
 
¶1. (U) Summary:  In the wake of last week's highly publicized 
and brutal killings of three Salvadoran parliamentarians and 
four Guatemalan police officers suspected of carrying out the 
killings, the Berger Administration delivered to the 
Guatemalan Congress the agreement to establish the 
International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (ref 
D).  These recent killings, which highlighted the urgent need 
to combat organized crime and end the culture of impunity in 
Guatemala, may give CICIG some legislative momentum.  End 
summary. 
 
¶2. (U) The Berger Administration sent to the Guatemalan 
Congress on February 27 the agreement with the UN to 
establish the International Commission Against Impunity in 
Guatemala (CICIG), requesting its immediate ratification. 
President Berger, in a televised address to the nation, said 
Guatemala's enemy is "the crime that feeds off 
narcotrafficking."  He acknowledged that over the years 
mafias had taken control of territory for the trafficking and 
production of narcotics, of ports and customs for contraband, 
of financial institutions for money laundering, and of 
prisons as a refuge for masterminding criminal operations, 
and "worse yet, in association with some members of the State 
and even of the security forces." 
 
¶3. (U) Berger asked Congress to expedite approval of CICIG by 
designating it a matter of national urgency.  Congress on 
February 28, however, failed to muster the two-thirds vote 
required to put the CICIG agreement on a fast track as a 
"national emergency measure," which would have allowed it to 
go to a plenary vote without passing through committees.  The 
CICIG agreement has therefore been assigned to the Foreign 
Relations Committee headed by Zury Rios of the FRG, which is 
opposed to CICIG and has 7 of the 21 votes in committee. 
Berger also requested Congress approve legislative proposals 
to purge and professionalize the National Civilian Police. 
 
¶4. (U) If approved, CICIG, led by a UN-appointed Commissioner 
and assisted by international investigators, would support 
Guatemalan institutions with investigation and prosecution of 
crimes committed by "illegal security groups" and 
"clandestine security organizations" (i.e., organized crime). 
 
 
¶5. (SBU) Foreign Minister Rosenthal told the Ambassador 
February 27 that President Berger decided to move forward 
with CICIG in response to the February 19 murder of three 
Salvadoran representatives to the Central American Parliament 
and subsequent murder of four National Civilian Police 
officers allegedly involved in the assassination (refs A, B, 
and C).  Rosenthal believed the GOG had the votes in Congress 
to approve the agreement. 
 
¶6. (U) Although Guatemalans have grown accustomed to a daily 
news diet of gruesome murders, these recent highly publicized 
killings sent shock waves through Guatemala because they 
exposed the extent to which organized crime has penetrated 
the police.  They prompted widespread criticism from both 
Guatemalans and Salvadorans and highlighted the country's 
growing insecurity and violence and the urgent need to combat 
organized crime and narcotrafficking.  According to a recent 
poll, 90 percent of Guatemalans have no confidence in the 
National Civilian Police. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Comment: Last week's killings are widely believed to 
link the police to organized crime and may give CICIG some 
legislative momentum.  If CICIG is approved by Congress, the 
USG (which has long been promoting the establishment of CICIG 
and its predecessor CICIACS) will be expected to join other 
donors in providing funding for the Commission.  Post urges 
Department consider announcing our intention to provide 
funding for CICIG as soon as it is approved by the Guatemalan 
 
Congress. 
Derham