SJS 8: "A New Era of Accountability in Guatemala?"

Citation:
Beltrán, Adriana. "A New Era of Accountability in Guatemala?" Current History 115 (2016): 63-67. Print.

Author Bio: Adriana Beltran is the head of the WOLA citizen security program. She works towards reform in Latin America on human rights especially Guatemala. This makes Beltran qualified to write this journal because she possesses the work experience as the leader of a major movement in Latin America. However, this will create a bias in the form that Guatemala absolutely needs reform while others may think that Guatemala can get by as it stands. To continue, Beltran was born in Guatemala, so she knows the situation first hand. In addition, she also works as a senior associate for citizen security in Washington. She has and continues to work with numerous other organizations in efforts to fight against human rights abuses and organized crime in Latin America.

Summary: In September of 2015, the Guatemalan president was voted by congress to be able to be arrested and prosecuted. The day after the vote, the president was arrested under charges of fraud. Because of this, there have been large protests in Guatemala. The system of dealing with the crime rate in Guatemala proved to be ineffective, so new organizations have come about to fix the problem. The presidential fraud came in the form of national tax collection. The president lured in tax collectors and lowered import taxes in return for bribes. There were also bribes to reduce bail and jail time in the justice system. Not only has there been corruption within the political leaders, but also the military leaders. The CICIG has been created to expose all of the corruption within Guatemala. The group works by prosecuting entire groups rather than individual people. This only works however, if it's local connections are hardworking to expose the crimes. Every week, thousands of people protest in Guatemala City and ask for a new reformed government. These protests can reach up to 100,000 people. This has lead to the government taking measures to settle the protestors such as supporting the resignation of the president. This has also lead to the ideology that change is possible in the government, but the people have elected a president that will hinder the growth of the new government. These events also impact other countries. Protests have occurred in Honduras and Mexico that have to do with political stability, corruption, and human rights abuses, being led by organizations like the CICIG. The Latin American people have figured out that through protests they can gain power and a voice.

Analysis: Corruption has been a reoccurring problem in many developing countries and also many developed countries. Using protests as a form of speech is also reoccurring in these situations. If the people have a chance to unite behind a common cause, the odds are that they will eventually succeed because of the large number of people backing the cause. This article stands behind the point that Guatemala is headed in the right direction as of now. Based on similar past events in other countries, this position is correct. Beltran describes this issue as deep rooted and needing to be dug up. Because of Beltran's study and personal experience of this subject, she accurately describes the people becoming fed up with the corruption in Guatemala.