Guatemala: Security force involvement with gangs of car thieves or organized crime; mistreatment of owners of car repair garages by security forces (1998-1999)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 28 September 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | GTM32862.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Guatemala: Security force involvement with gangs of car thieves or organized crime; mistreatment of owners of car repair garages by security forces (1998-1999), 28 September 1999, GTM32862.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad574c.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. |
Very little information on security force involvement with gangs of car thieves could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, in an article published on 1 January 1998, Siglo Veintiuno reported that two army officers accused of being members of a car theft ring had taken early retirement.
Somewhat more information could be found on links between security forces and organized crime.In its ninth human rights report, encompassing the period of 1 April 1998 to 31 December 1998, the Misión de Verificación de las Naciones Unidas en Guatemala (MINUGUA) stated that armed groups involved in paramilitary and organized criminal activity were active in various parts of the country (1999). According to MINUGUA, state agents were often direct or indirect participants in these groups' activities (ibid.). This latter contention is corroborated by two January 1998 reports of army officers suspected of involvement with drug syndicates being arrested while in possession of cocaine or heroin (Prensa Libre 4 Jan. 1998a; ibid. 4 Jan. 1998b). In another case, five former police officers, including an ex-commander of the national police force's anti-kidnapping unit, were accused, and subsequently found guilty, of being members of a crime group responsible for the kidnapping of Lorena Quiñónez and Marvin Barrios Marchena in 1997 (Prensa Libre 5 Aug. 1999; ibid. 16 Jan. 1999).
No information on intimidation or mistreatment by security forces of owners of auto repair garages could be found among the sources consulted.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate 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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Misión de Verificación de las Naciones Unidas en Guatemala (MINUGUA). 1999. Noveno informe sobre derechos humanos de la misión de verificación de las Naciones Unidas en Guatemala. < http://www.minugua.guate.net/ > [Accessed 27 Sept. 1999]
Prensa Libre [Guatemala City. 5 Aug. 1999. Oneida Najarro. "Firme pena a ex policías."
_____. 16 January 1999. Oneida Najarro. "Tres víctimas señalan a ex policías plagiarios."
_____. 4 January 1998a. Ramón Hernández. "Dos oficiales del Ejército detenidos por el
DOAN con un kilo de cocaína."
Sept. 1999]
_____. 4 January 1998b. "Militares pendientes de ir a juicio por narcos."
http://www.prensalibre.com.gt/> [Accessed 27 Sept. 1999]
Siglo Veintiuno [Guatemala City, in Spanish]. 1 January 1998. "Army Officers Accept Voluntary Retirement Plan." (FBIS-LAT-98-001 1 Jan. 1998/WNC)
Additional Sources Consulted
Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Website.
Central America NewsPak [Austin, Tex.]. 1998-Sept. 1999.
Central America Report [Guatemala City]. 1998-Sept. 1999.
Central America Update [Washington, D.C.]. Jan.-June. 1998.
Defense Monitor [Washington, D.C.]. 1998-Sept. 1999.
La Nacion [San José]. 1998-Sept. 1999.
Latin America and Caribbean Security Update [Washington, D.C.]. June 1998-Sept. 1999.
Prensa Libre [Guatemala City. 1998-Sept. 1999.
Siglo Veintiuno [Guatemala City]. 1998-Sept. 1999.
La Tribuna[Managua. 1998-Sept. 1999.
Transnational Crime and Corruption Center Website.
United Nations Crime and Justice Information Network Website.
Electronic sources: IRB Databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, WNC.