OPM and Decriminalization

Reporter: Mr. President, your predecessor arrested fourteen of the country's most wanted drug traffickers, brought the country's murder rate down to its lowest level since 2004, declared states of siege in two departments and brought temporary relief to the people of those departments, and seized 7 times more drugs, drug money and goods than the two previous administrations combined. The first month of your administration saw another drop in homicides. How do you intend to capitalize on the improvements made these last two years?

OPM: Let's decriminalize everything - possession, use, transportation. Everything.

Why this proposed solution? 

• We've done everything possible to bring the security situation under control using the resources available. It won't get better unless we decriminalize drugs.
• I was hoping that you would say "no." Now, get ready for mano dura.
• I actually thought the US would go along.

I still have no idea why OPM would have chosen this route one month into his presidency. However, I would just like to say that it isn't that unusual for the Guatemalan military (and retired military) to thumb their noses at the US. They are a proud institution that did not take orders from the US but appear to have acted in ways that the US wanted only when it was in their interest.

And who checks facts for The independent?

The decision to explore legalisation comes amid soaring crime rates in the country, which is regarded as prime real estate by Mexican drug cartels competing to shift cocaine from South America, where it is grown, to the US, where most of it is consumed....

Those profit margins have led to institutionalised corruption and endemic violence. Guatemala has one of the world's highest murder rates outside of a war zone, with 52 deaths per 100,000 citizens each year. About 98 per cent of murders go unsolved.

I have no idea where 52 deaths per 100,000 comes from. It was 46 in 2009, 41 in 2010, and 39 in 2011. The latest reports have between 5 and 10% of murders solved.

Given that murders are down, I would prefer that the president turn his attention to reducing extortion which seems to have gotten much more complicated in the last few years.