Dear President Pérez Molina,
As friends of Guatemala in the United States Congress, we write to respectfully urge you to renew the mandate of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG).
The creation of the CICIG was a tremendous accomplishment for Guatemala. Since 2007, the CICIG has had an important impact in combating powerful and violent criminal networks that have long compromised the rule of law in Guatemala. In addition, the Commission has spearheaded major reforms of Guatemala's justice system and bolstered the investigative capacity of local police and prosecutors.
We were particularly pleased by the CICIG's recent success in working with your Attorney General to charge imprisoned former army official Byron Lima Oliva with running a multi-million dollar criminal network from behind bars. This is just one of many achievements that the CICIG has had since its creation.
Still, we think that much remains to be done to help bolster the capacity of the judicial system. Given its track record of success, we strongly believe that having an independent organization, such as CICIG, is the right way to help Guatemala counter organized crime and strengthen its criminal justice system. We also believe that the continued work of the CICIG can serve as an important contribution to the goals outlined in the Alliance for Prosperity in the Northern Triangle and provide needed accountability to achieve those goals.
As you are aware, the United States has been providing funding for the CICIG. If the mandate is extended, we will work with our colleagues and the Obama Administration to continue funding CICIG. We also will continue to urge our international partners to support the Commission. As you know, Sweden, the Netherlands, Canada and the European Union have all made important contributions.
The CICIG has a track record of success in Guatemala, and we believe much more can be accomplished if its mandate is extended. Thank you very much for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Eliot L. Engel
Ranking Member
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Edward R. Royce
Chairman
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Albio Sires
Ranking Member
House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
Jeff Duncan
Chairman
House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere