Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Guatemalan populace took to the streets demanding Colom's resignation. Colom, mean-
while, denied any wrongdoing and ordered a full investigation. He also orchestrated
counter-demonstrations with the UNE party affiliates, bussing in supporters to the capital
from the provinces. The murders were investigated by CICIG, though many of the asser-
tions made by Rosenberg in his video were corroborated through other sources, most im-
portantlyevidenceofMusa'spendingappointmenttoBanrural.Aneyewitnessalsostepped
forward with information regarding the identities of three of the six material authors of
Rosenberg's murder, which were provided to CICIG and the FBI, who were aiding in the
investigation.
In January 2010, the results of CICIG's investigation into the murder of Rodrigo Rosen-
berg were revealed. It was found that the lawyer orchestrated his own death with the un-
knowing help of friends and family members, who thought they were being recruited to
arrange the execution of his would-be assassin. The truth in Guatemala is often harder to
believe than lies.
Guatemala is a constitutional democracy. The president is the chief of state, assisted by a
vicepresident,bothofwhomareelectedtoofficeforasinglefour-yearterm.Thepresident
isconstitutionallybarredfromasecondterm,butthevicepresidentmayrunforofficeafter
a four-year hiatus from office. The Congreso de la República is the national (unicameral)
legislativebody,consistingof158members.Congressmembersservefour-yeartermsrun-
ningconcurrentlywiththepresidentialterm.Guatemalahas22administrativesubdivisions
(departments) headed by governors appointed by the president. Popularly elected mayors
or councils govern Guatemala City and 331 other municipalities.
The judicial branch is independent of the executive branch and the legislature and consists
of a Constitutional Court and a Supreme Court of Justice. The Constitutional Court is the
highest court in the land and consists of five judges elected for five-year terms, with each
judge serving one year as president of the court. Congress, the Supreme Court of Justice,
the Superior Council of the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, and the bar associ-
ation (Colegio de Abogados) each elect one judge and the president appoints the fifth. The
Supreme Court of Justice consists of 13 magistrates who serve five-year terms and elect a
