Guatemala: Political Conditions, Elections, and Human Rights (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Aug. 12, 2004 |
| Report Number |
RL32124 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Maureen Taft-Morales, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
Since the 1980s, Guatemala has been consolidating its transition from a centuries-long tradition
of
mostly autocratic rule toward representative government. A democratic constitution was adopted
in 1985, and a democratically-elected government was inaugurated in 1986. Democratic institutions
remain fragile. A 36-year civil war ended in 1996 with the signing of the Peace Accords between
the government and the left-wing guerrilla movement. The accords not only ended the civil conflict,
but constituted a blueprint for profound political, economic, and social change to address the
conflict's root causes. They outline a profound restructuring of state institutions, with the goals of
ending government security forces' impunity from prosecution, consolidating the rule of law;
shifting government funding away from the military and into health, education, and other basic
services to reach the rural and indigenous poor; and the full participation of the indigenous
population in local and national decision making processes. From1997-2003, U.S. assistance to
Guatemala focused on support of the peace process. Aid has declined from about $60 million in
FY2002 to $38 million requested for FY2005. In the conference report for the FY2004 omnibus
appropriations bill ( H.Rept. 108-401 ), Congress criticized the Administration's strategy of reducing
staffing and funding for Guatemala. Current conditions on aid are in P.L. 108-199 ; proposed
legislation related to Guatemala includes H.R. 1300 ; H.R. 2534 ; and
S.Res. 289 .
Former Guatemala City mayor Oscar Berger of the center-right coalition Great National
Alliance was elected president with 54% of the vote and inaugurated on January 14, 2004, for a
four-year term. Since taking office, he has pursued corruption charges against his predecessor,
Alfonso Portillo, of the Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG), and other former FRG officials.
Berger has also proposed military reforms including cutting troops by a third, slashing defense
spending, and modernizing defense policy. His proposed economic reforms include new income tax
rates and a temporary tax to fund programs related to the peace process.
Despite his decisive loss in the first round presidential elections, retired General Efrain Rios
Montt remains a divisive force. Berger's top defense official, General Otto Perez, resigned in May
to protest negotiations between Berger officials and the FRG, of which Rios Montt is still leader.
Rios Montt was military dictator from 1982-1983, while the army carried out a counter-insurgency
campaign resulting in what is now characterized as genocide of the Mayan population.
Regarding respect for human rights, Guatemala has made enormous strides, but significant
problems remain. The armed conflict is definitively ended, and the state policy of human rights
abuses has been ended. On the other hand, strengthening of civilian power over military forces is
slow, and security forces reportedly continue to commit gross violations of human rights with
impunity. The U.N., the OAS, and the United States have all expressed concern that human rights
violations have increased over the past several years, and that past Guatemalan governments have
taken insufficient steps to curb them or to implement the Peace Accords. This report may be updated
as events warrant.
