Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In July 2006, a Spanish judge ordered the detention of all eight accused after an un-
fruitful visit to Guatemala with the intention of gathering testimonies from plaintiffs and
questioning the accused. Ríos Montt and General Mejía Víctores effectively paralyzed the
process with a series of appeals upheld by the Constitutional Court. Menchú admitted the
difficulty of getting Guatemalan officials to execute the arrest orders, calling it “a test of
the Guatemalan justice system.”
Asforthelegislature, thereistalkofreducingthenumberofmembersofcongress,elec-
ted partly by proportional representation. The Guatemalan congress has suffered in recent
years from a gradual erosion of confidence on the part of its constituents because of gross
inefficiency, corruption, and growing suspicion of widespread links to drug trafficking. In
essence, a majority of Guatemalans view their congressional body as practically useless
and expensive to maintain.
Political parties,likewise,havesufferedagradualdeclineincredibility.Thegeneralpat-
tern since 1986 has been one of great expectation for change prior to elections and the in-
stallation of a new government, followed by disappointment with the new government's
failure to deliver on its promises, ending in frustration and renewed hope for change with
the next round of elections. The government of Álvaro Colom appeared to be no exception
tothispatternafteritsfirstyearinpower.Opinionpollspointtoagrowingdesiretoseethe
emergence of better leadership and an authentic political class, something Guatemala still
lacks.
Guatemala's gross domestic product in 2007 was $65.53 billion, an increase of 5.7 percent
over the previous year, with a per capita GDP of about $5,100. Inflation was about 10 per-
cent for the same year. Although it is the largest economy in Central America, large sec-
tors of the population remain only marginally active in the economy. Guatemala is also the
region's most populous country. The economy has been growing steadily since the 1996
peace accords and has demonstrated macroeconomic stability.
Agriculture accounts for 13 percent of GDP, with agricultural exports of coffee, sugar, ba-
nanas, cardamom, vegetables, flowers and plants, timber, rice, and rubber being the chief
products. Guatemala exported $8 billion worth of goods in 2008, with 75 percent of these
beingagricultural products.Lightindustrycontributesto25percentoftheGDPandmanu-
facturesincludepreparedfood,clothingandtextiles,constructionmaterials,tires,andphar-
maceuticals. The service sector accounts for 61 percent of Guatemala's GDP. The United
