Institutional Corruption in Guatemala Persists Long After End of Its Civil War

I read a UN report recently, which outlined systemic corruption that persists in Guatemala's government even today-- almost 25 years after the end of their civil war.  The report, which described the country as “captured” by corruption, was the result of a 12-year UN commission into corruption in the Central American country.  The commission, known as Cicig for its initials in Spanish, said that there is a “mafia coalition” among members of government, the business community and private individuals that is “willing to sacrifice Guatemala’s present and future to guarantee impunity and preserve the status quo”.

The commission chief Iván Velásquez, a Colombian lawyer who has been barred by Morales’ government from entering Guatemala, has said, “We almost got to the nucleus of the structures that have captured the state,” Velásquez said. “This cannot be solved without a profound restructuring of the state.”  The commission began its work in Guatemala in 2007 at the request of then-president Óscar Berger and was given responsibility for dismantling illegality in the wake of the country’s 1960-1996 civil war.  Many observers praised the commission for its work, which resulted in the prosecution of more than 400 people, including the former president Otto Pérez Molina, his vice-president and much of his cabinet. 

“Between 2012 and 2015, an illicit, political-economic network took over the executive (branch), subordinated the legislative, manipulated and interfered in the election of judges to high courts and, in addition to looting the state, promoted laws and policies favoring private companies to the detriment of competition and the citizenry,” the report said.

Together with Guatemalan prosecutors, the commission took down 70 organized crime networks. Those targeted for prosecution included public officials, lawmakers, judges, business people and other civilians.   The report said illicit political money is “present in the majority of campaigns and parties” and comes from criminal organizations including drug traffickers seeking territorial control and political protection, as well as business people seeking influence.