Yesterday, the Guatemalan Congress voted on the prospect of stripping President Otto Pérez Molina of his presidential immunity against prosecution. The president has been accused of leading the “La Linea” graft ring, which swindled hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Guatemalan customs office every week. Guatemala's Public Ministry (MP) and CICIG (the UN-led International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala) recorded hours of telephone conversations in which the president directed his business. Previously, the ex-vice president, Roxana Baldetti, had been implicated and forced to resign; she was sent to jail on August 21, the same day as the president's role was publicly unveiled by the MP and CICIG.
Ignoring the damning evidence against him, the president has flatly refused to pay heed to calls for his resignation. He has been joined in his intransigence by Manuel Baldizón, the current front-runner in the country's presidential elections, who tried to rally other party members from Lider (his party) to refuse to vote to take away the immunity. Since 105 votes were needed to revoke immunity, many worried that with a Lider and Patriota (the president's party) bloc voting against or abstaining, they would be unable to reach their goal.
Furthermore,when peaceful protesters gathered outside of Congress to await the outcome of the vote, Lider supporters joined the crowd trying to threaten and block congress members from entering the building for the vote. However, citizens lined up along the entrances to Congress, creating a human shield and allowing congress members to enter the building and fulfill their duty.
Ignoring the damning evidence against him, the president has flatly refused to pay heed to calls for his resignation. He has been joined in his intransigence by Manuel Baldizón, the current front-runner in the country's presidential elections, who tried to rally other party members from Lider (his party) to refuse to vote to take away the immunity. Since 105 votes were needed to revoke immunity, many worried that with a Lider and Patriota (the president's party) bloc voting against or abstaining, they would be unable to reach their goal.
Furthermore,when peaceful protesters gathered outside of Congress to await the outcome of the vote, Lider supporters joined the crowd trying to threaten and block congress members from entering the building for the vote. However, citizens lined up along the entrances to Congress, creating a human shield and allowing congress members to enter the building and fulfill their duty.
Despite the many obstacles, yesterday evening it was announced that Congress revoked the president's immunity. This means that, like Baldetti, Molina could be in prison by the end of this week. This announcement was met with beautiful scenes of pride, joy and revelry.
While the indignation of the people against the president for his current crimes has been incredible, it was particularly moving to see those who would like him to face justice for his past crimes, as well. As an ex-member of the country's brutal special forces, the Kaibiles, Molina ordered the massacre of many, many Maya Ixil and K'iche' throughout the Ixil region.
For those who remember his role in the genocide, there is even more reason to celebrate that Molina, the man responsible for the murder, rape and torture of so many in the Ixil, will no longer be president and will likely be headed to prison.