Issue and Opponent: In 2018, President Jimmy Morales decided not to renew the mandate of the UN-backed international commission against Impunity in Guatemala. President Morales and his family had been subjects of an ongoing corruption investigation on behalf of the CICIG, known as Comisión International Contra la Impunidad en Guatemala. Since 2007, CICIG has been considered one of the most successful mechanisms for combating issues linked to corruption and organized crime. President Morales sought to undermine the mandate’s ability to work while being investigated for accepting $1 million in illegal campaign donations. It was a widely held belief that government corruption should be held accountable and that justice should be served.
Dilemma Action: Therefore, thousands of indigenous Guatemalans blocked off sections of the Pan-American highway in response. The demonstrations also disrupted a congressional session, in which it was claimed that the decision was allegedly going to be discussed. Protesters took up space and demanded to be heard whilst simultaneously disrupting the inaction of the Guatemalan government during a congressional session.
Outcomes: There were initial concerns on the potential crackdowns of the protests on behalf of the government but the Guatemalan government could not have acted against these participants directly or aggressively without creating another international scandal. Previous human rights violations of the Indigenous have resulted in international scrutiny. The Guatemalan government had no other option than to allow the protest to run its course. However, President Morales has not been charged with these corruption allegations, and different members of his family have been cleared of fraud charges.