OPM and Decriminalization

Reporter: Mr. President, your predecessor arrested fourteen of the country's most wanted drug traffickers, brought the country's murder rate down to its lowest level since 2004, declared states of siege in two departments and brought temporary relief to the people of those departments, and seized 7 times more drugs, drug money and goods than the two previous administrations combined. The first month of your administration saw another drop in homicides. How do you intend to capitalize on the improvements made these last two years?

OPM: Let's decriminalize everything - possession, use, transportation. Everything.

Why this proposed solution? 

• We've done everything possible to bring the security situation under control using the resources available. It won't get better unless we decriminalize drugs.
• I was hoping that you would say "no." Now, get ready for mano dura.
• I actually thought the US would go along.

I still have no idea why OPM would have chosen this route one month into his presidency. However, I would just like to say that it isn't that unusual for the Guatemalan military (and retired military) to thumb their noses at the US. They are a proud institution that did not take orders from the US but appear to have acted in ways that the US wanted only when it was in their interest.

And who checks facts for The independent?

The decision to explore legalisation comes amid soaring crime rates in the country, which is regarded as prime real estate by Mexican drug cartels competing to shift cocaine from South America, where it is grown, to the US, where most of it is consumed....

Those profit margins have led to institutionalised corruption and endemic violence. Guatemala has one of the world's highest murder rates outside of a war zone, with 52 deaths per 100,000 citizens each year. About 98 per cent of murders go unsolved.

I have no idea where 52 deaths per 100,000 comes from. It was 46 in 2009, 41 in 2010, and 39 in 2011. The latest reports have between 5 and 10% of murders solved.

Given that murders are down, I would prefer that the president turn his attention to reducing extortion which seems to have gotten much more complicated in the last few years.

Least Violent Municipalities in Guatemala

According to Carlos Mendoza's analysis of PNC data, forty-seven municipalities tied for being the least violent in Guatemala in 2011. 

The news isn't all good. Click through to Carlos's page to see the rates for other municipalities.

A Rosenberg trend?

Let's hope that Rodrigo Rosenberg did not start a trend.

Hours after he asked his parishioners to pray for him, Rev. Rafael Reatiga was found shot to death in a car in Bogota with another Roman Catholic priest.

The Associated Press reported that police initially suspected that Reatiga and Rev. Richard Piffano, 37, were victims of robbery. But now, three weeks after their bodies were found, Colombian prosecutors say the two Catholic priests hired hitmen to kill them when at least one of them was diagnosed with AIDS.

Prosecutors located the alleged hitmen based on phone numbers the priests had called from their cell phones days before their deaths.Prosecutors said Tuesday that the priests paid about $8,500 for the hit. They had originally planned to commit suicide by throwing themselves into a canyon but couldn’t bring themselves to jump. Medical tests showed that Reatiga, 36, had AIDS.

He also had syphilis and had been seen visiting places frequented by gay men in Botoga, according to the AP.

Two of the four assassins have been arrested, the AP reported. They face up to 40 years in prison if convicted.

A terrible end for all involved.

Guatemala president weighs drug legalization, blames U.S. for not reducing consumption

Sorry, I've been travelling all day and haven't had much internet access. A few thoughts:

I still don't understand Perez' talk of decriminalization. While he did bring the issue up a month ago, it sure sounds likes blindsided the US. He's free to do what he wants, but that's not the way to get the United States to enter into a dialogue with you. Wouldn't you want to build some silent support for such an initiative before moving forward? And will this weaken him over the next four years?

Drug usage has apparently decreased in recent years. However, it was so high to begin with that I guess people don't notice. That sort of reminds me of the murder rate in Guatemala. People dismiss the reductions of murders and drug usage over the last few years.

I haven't gotten to read that much but are people saying that Funes changed his mind because of US pressure?

Boz has some interesting thoughts here.

US Embassy Responds to Decriminalization of Drugs in Guatemala

The US Embassy in Guatemala responded to President Otto Perez Molina's suggestion that the Central American nations should consider decriminalizing drugs so as to reduce violence in the region with what I consider a polite, but emphatic no.

I can't say that I agree with everything that is said (especially the we need to keep drugs illegal so that drug traffickers don't become more involved in other illegal activities and potentially make things worse argument) but it strikes the right tone.

Here's the translation (I hope they don't mind):

"The idea of ​​decriminalizing drug use has been debated in various jurisdictions, including Colombia, Mexico, California and several forums Central America.

The Government of the United States continues to oppose these measures because the evidence shows that our drug problem shared is a major threat to public health and safety. In the United States, drugs are present in about half of those who commit crimes ranging from misdemeanors to felonies. Scientific research shows, however, that drug addiction is a disease that can be prevented and treated successfully.

Guatemalan President to propose legalizing drugs

Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina has repeated his suggestion that Guatemala and the other nations of Central America should consider decriminalizing drugs in order to help reduce violence.

Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina said he will propose legalizing drugs in Central America in an upcoming meeting with the region's leaders.

Perez Molina said in a radio interview that would include decriminalizing the transportation of drugs through the area.

The Guatemalan president said the war on drugs, and all the money and technology received from the U.S., has not diminished drug trafficking in the area.

While the details would have to be worked out, he would also consider setting up legal mechanisms to sell drugs. I increasingly believe that some effort at decriminalization would be beneficial both to the people of Central America and the United States. On the other hand, I'm not convinced that the US government and regional governments could design some sort of effective policy. They would include too many loopholes and restrictions that would still make it highly profitable to operate on the black market.

It's also interesting that it is the Colombian and Guatemalan presidents who are suggesting this policy change. They are the leaders of two countries that have recently succeeded in reducing violence, at least when measured in terms of their murder rates.

Finally, maybe Otto Perez Molina does not believe that decriminalization is a viable option. In order to get the US's attention and action (lift the military restrictions in place that limit US cooperation with their Guatemalan counterparts and to get it to contribute more resources to battling narcotrafficking in Central America), Perez is raising the stakes of the game. This is just his way of negotiating. Now the US will have to deal or call his bluff.

And hey CBS/AP, the murder rate in Guatemala is not 45 per 100,000. That is so 2009. The rate is just under 39 per 100,000.

Unidad de Investigaciones sobre la Guerra Civil Salvadoreña (UIGCS)

El Instituto de Estudios Históricos, Antropológicos y Arqueológicos de la Universidad de El Salvador (IEHAA-UES), la Fundación Friedrich Ebert (FES) y la Dirección Nacional de Investigaciones de Cultura y las Artes (DNI) de la Secretaría de la Presidencia are sponsoring an International Seminar from February 15-17 in San Salvador on "Historia, sociedad y memorias:el conflicto armado en el XX aniversario de los Acuerdos de Paz."

I'll be there presenting a paper on “Los partidos políticos en El Salvador: Una vision desde el extranjero.” It's a bit of an overview of English-language works on the Salvadoran party system during the last two decades. 

Drop me a line if you are going to be at the conference or if you would be interested in getting together in the capital sometime next week.