Torres condemns the decision of President Morales not to renew the mandate of CICIG

Statement

Today, US Representative Norma J. Torres (D-CA) issued the following statement on President Jimmy Morales' decision not to renew the mandate of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG):

"I am appalled by President Morales' decision not to renew the mandate of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) or the visa of his commissioner, Iván Velásquez. With this decision, President Morales has completely abandoned his campaign promise of a more transparent government.

"I ask the Guatemalan people to stand up so that their voice is heard, and not to allow President Morales to delay the important progress that has been made. The Guatemalan people deserve a government that responds to their demands. For my part, I promise to do everything in my power to ensure that President Morales and his government are accountable.

"Let me be clear: this is a big step back for Guatemala. We all know that CICIG exists because the Guatemalan people and the Guatemalan state recognized the need for external assistance to strengthen the rule of law and dismantle organized criminal groups that were undermining progress in the country. Since its creation more than a decade ago, CICIG has played a fundamental role in improving justice and security in Guatemala, and Iván Velásquez has been extremely effective in his role as Commissioner of CICIG. As a result, CICIG has not only become one of the most respected and trusted institutions in Guatemala, but it has also increased citizens' trust in the justice system in general.

"President Morales is wrong if he thinks he can turn his back on the fight against corruption and remain a friend of the United States. Our top priority in Central America is to address the root causes of migration: poverty and violence. It is simply not possible to achieve that goal without fighting corruption. "

Torres is a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Rules Committee. Last year, the bipartisan resolution he presented with Representative John R. Moolenaar (R-MI) to reaffirm the commitment of the United States Congress to fight corruption in Central America was approved unanimously by the House of Representatives. The resolution states that efforts to combat corruption must remain at the center of US policy. UU in Central America, the Mission of Support for the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH) and the CICIG are important contributions to these efforts, and that the governments of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador should cooperate with MACCIH, CICIG and the attorneys general of the region.

Source