Guatemala Should Act On Proposed Body To Probe Armed Groups - Ban Ki-moon
 
Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2007 18:00:26 -0400

New York, Jul  3 2007  6:00PM
 
With talks underway in Guatemala’s Congress on a proposed independent 
body to investigate illegal armed groups, United Nations Secretary-General 
Ban Ki-moon today voiced hope that the country will 
take “this important opportunity” to fight impunity.
Under a December 2006 agreement between the Government and the UN, 
the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (to 
be known as CICIG, its Spanish acronym) will have an initial mandate 
of two years, pending approval by the Congress. 

Mr. Ban hopes that Guatemala “will seize this important opportunity 
to use international assistance to strengthen its national judicial 
institutions in the fight against impunity in a way that is 
fully respectful of Guatemalan sovereignty,” said his spokesperson 
in a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2650">statement. 

“The Secretary-General wishes to emphasize that safeguarding public 
security and solidifying the rule of law are not challenges unique 
to Guatemala, but shared by many other countries emerging from 

The Commission will be able to conduct its own investigations and 
also help local institutions, particularly the Office of the Public 
Prosecutor.  While it will be an independent, non-UN body, its 
commissioner will be appointed by the Secretary-General and report 
periodically to him.

One of its tasks is to recommend public policies and any legal or 
institutional measures for eradicating the illegal armed groups 
and preventing their re-emergence. The costs are expected to be borne 
by voluntary contributions from the international community.
 2007-07-03 00:00:00.000 


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