Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold, Conservative) | Hansard source
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her policy is on the proposed International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala; and whether the UK plans to offer any support to this body.
Geoff Hoon (Minister of State (Europe), Foreign & Commonwealth Office) | Hansard source
The situation in Guatemala has improved since the signing of the Peace Accords in 1996, following 36 years of conflict. However, we continue to be concerned by the growth of organised crime, the activities of gangs and the widespread impunity which threatens the rule of law in Guatemala. We therefore very much support the creation of an International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala and are working closely with EU partners and the international community to help ensure its effectiveness.
Hey Geoff- you're beginning to sound a bit like a broken record :-) We'll be looking into what exactly the UK Government means when it says: "working closely..." and "help ensure its effectiveness". Sound a little like warm words without much substance- but when we identify what this 'substantially' means- we'll let you know.
The background to this was Guatemala's government signing an agreement (12-12-2006) with the United Nations creating a special commission to identify clandestine Guatemalan security groups and help the government dismantle them.
The new International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala will be led by a commissioner to be named by the U.N. secretary-general and will have an initial two-year mandate. You can see from this Reuters report.
