Guatemala: Information on the position of the Military Commissioner in the Civil Defense patrols
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 July 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | GTM17783.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Guatemala: Information on the position of the Military Commissioner in the Civil Defense patrols, 1 July 1994, GTM17783.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abeb64.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In addition to the information provided in Response to Information Request GTM6472 of 3 August 1990, please find attached a few documents that refer to the role of military commissioners.
One of the most recent reports available refers to commissioners as "civilian delegates of the army in charge of recruitment for military service and other duties among the civilian population," adding that "military commissioners have often been accused of abuse and of spying on the population" (Central America Report 22 Oct. 1993, 318). For additional details on their role, particularly as it relates to the organization of civil defense patrols (PACs), please refer to the attachments. Some references to military commissioners can also be found in the documents attached to Response to Information Request GTM17785.E of 4 July 1994, which discusses forced conscription in Guatemala.
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Central America Report [Guatemala]. 22 October 1993. "Guatemala: Mired in Violence and Uncertainty."
Attachments
Americas Watch. August 1986. Civil Patrols in Guatemala. New York: Human Rights Watch, pp. 42-45.
Barry, Tom. 1992. Inside Guatemala. Albuquerque, N. Mex.: The Inter-Hemispheric Education Resource Center, pp. 52-54.
Central America Report [Guatemala]. 22 October 1993. "Guatemala: Mired in Violence and Uncertainty."
. 3 June 1988. "Guatemala: Military Commissioners Charged with Abuse of Power."