Congress Watch
Congressional emphasis on Guatemala for the last decade has centered on supporting the Guatemalan peace accords and increasing pressure on the Guatemalan government to improve respect for human rights.
In 1990, the US Congress instituted a ban on military training (IMET) and military aid (FMF) to Guatemala following the murder of US innkeeper Michael Devine, allegedly by members of the Guatemalan military. In 1996, that ban was modified slightly following the signing of the Guatemalan peace accords to permit “expanded IMET” training only, courses that focus on human rights, democracy and administration rather than combat training. Congress has included the ban on FMF and regular IMET for Guatemala each year as part of the foreign aid appropriations bill as a response to the Guatemalan government’s lack of compliance with the military reform provisions of the 1996 peace accords. Each year, Guatemala is one of the few countries in the world facing such a ban.
Congress approved approximately a quarter of a billion dollars in development assistance to Guatemala over a four-year period starting in 1996 to help Guatemala implement the peace accords.
Members of Congress from both parties have expressed
concern over the Guatemalan government’s failure to comply with
key aspects of the peace accords, including military and intelligence
reforms, improving respect for human rights, protecting indigenous rights
and investing more government resources in poverty reduction. These concerns
have been expressed in a series of congressional letters to successive
Guatemalan presidents and in congressional “report language”
that accompanies the foreign aid bill. Members of Congress have also expressed
concern over government corruption, inadequate progress in counternarcotics
efforts, and labor rights violations.
Guatemala Language in Final
FY08 Foreign Operations Bill, January 2008
Congress Stands up for Women Victims
of Violence, December 2007
109th Congress Initiates House Resolution on Violence Against Women, December 2006
Congress Sends Strong Letter on Violence Against Women, May 2006
Draw Attention to Violence Against Women in Guatemala, April 2006
