PRESS RELEASE 057
STATEMENT BY COMMISSIONER IVÁN VELÁSQUEZ GÓMEZ TO THE PUBLIC
Guatemala, October 13, 2013.
1. I respect judicial independence and the decisions and rulings of judges; however, this does not imply that CICIG will not file appeals provided for under Guatemalan law when such decisions are clearly illegal.
2. I respect, acknowledge and emphasize the brave and valuable work conducted by the previous Commissioners in their determined fight against impunity in Guatemala.
3. I regret the manner in which certain sections of the media generalized my recent comments. I repeat that I believe some accusations made against judges may have been based on rumors. However, by saying so, I was not alluding to the report "Judges of Impunity", which was based on an in-depth study of a series of judicial decisions that favoured impunity in Guatemala, and it is the responsibility of the Supreme Court of Justice to assess any possible legal consequences.
4. As to suspicions regarding the conduct of certain judges, I reiterate what I have said previously in public: the public naming and shaming of judges should only take place in cases where their illegal activity, and the manner in which they favour criminal structures, has been proven and is well documented.
5. We must demand and respect judicial independence, because the majority of judges are honest, brave, have sound values and fight for justice.
6. CICIG reiterates its support for justice bodies and Guatemalan authorities in fighting impunity. Furthermore, it calls upon society to continue efforts (which should be a permanent objective of the State and the country) to tackle all forms of crime, in particular the activity of criminal groups, which causes great damage to the country.