News

Proposal to abolish the Death Panelty in Guatemala

Asunción | march 29, 2004

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights presented at the Palacio Nacional de la Cultura the report “Justicia e Inclusion Social” (Justice and Social Inclusion), which considers that in order to strengthen democracy and the state of law in Guatemala “the death penalty must be abolished”.

The concern of the ICHR is based on the following subjects:

• Violence: the increase in the crime rate during 2003, and up to this date.

• Racism: there is no indication that indigenous peoples will be included in structural themes.

• Women: since the year 2003, eleven women have been murdered, the culprits being members of the National Police Force of Guatemala. There are several other cases not proven.

• Inequality: the gap between economic and social classes is increasingly obvious.

• Militarization of society: the former squads of the Civil Self-defense movement are regrouping.

After receiving the report compiled by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, H.E. President Oscar Berger expressed that executions are no solution to the effects of violence. He stated that he does not support the death penalty, as it does not solve problems, neither in his country or elsewhere in the world.

In the Americas, only Guatemala, Cuba and the United States apply the death penalty, although some countries like Chile apply it in specific cases. The Special Rapporteur Susana Villaran, also a member of the ICHR, stated that in respect of the death penalty, they urge the country to take measures to abolish its application.

Source: Instituto de Investigacion y Autoformacion Politica (INIAP) (www.sociedadcivil.org)