Impunity

By Oscar Pocasangre - -

Homicide stories are no strangers to the newspapers pages of Guatemala. The homicide rates in this Central American country have reached a disturbing level, with around 16 murders per day. The situation is exacerbated by drug-trafficking, which has motivated and financed many of these crimes and has infiltrated even high government posts.

The stranger in this country happens to be justice – most of these murders are not resolved and the executors of these heinous crimes still roam around the country. Ask government officials about this, however, and they will say that they are implementing programs to resolve this. But the situation is out of control and the population of the country is outraged at the reckless impunity and the passivity of the government.

On May 10th 2009, Rodrigo Rosenberg, a Guatemalan lawyer was assassinated in Guatemala City. His death, most likely, would have been nothing more than a statistic except for the fact that before his death, he recorded a video in which he said that he felt threatened and accused President Alvaro Colom, his wife, and his top assistants of his death. Additionally, he left behind evidence that further incriminated the President and his wife in a corruption scandal.

The video caused uproar among Guatemalans, who, if outraged before, are now ireful and insulted by the alleged involvement of the president – who obviously denied any responsibility – in the lawyer’s death. Rosenberg’s death incited people to go out to the streets and protest against the government which has allowed so much impunity. The protesters ask for the stepping down of the president while an investigation clarifies what happened and brings justice to this case. Additionally, they ask for judicial reforms that would diminish the president’s influence in the judiciary and would allow for a more independent justice system.



It is impossible to continue living with so many homicides, so much impunity, and with a passive government that has been accused of being involved in some of these crimes. This situation strips citizens of a very basic civil right that the government should always guard: justice. Hopefully, protestors who have taken to the streets and to legal means will be able to secure and preserve this right.

The video left behind Rosenberg:





Photo Credits: Carlos M. Pocasangre