UN Secretary-General Ban urges Guatemala to support crime probe after chief’s resignation

June 9th, 2010 - 5:11 am ICT by BNO News  

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the government of Guatemala to support the work of the International Commission Against Impunity (CICIG) after the former chief, Carlos Castresana resigned on Monday, the United Nations news announced on Tuesday.

Castresana announced his dismissal as Commissioner after serving the CICIG since 2007. He claimed that the lack of support and the loss of information were his main reasons to resign. The Secretary-General only had praises for the former chief of the CICIG.

“He and his staff have worked courageously for more than two and half years so that Guatemalans can have a justice system that defends and protects them. CICIG is a groundbreaking initiative whose investigations and prosecutions are stirring hope in Guatemala that impunity can be defeated,” Ban said.

Ban said on Monday that he plans to appoint a replacement for Castresana who can continue the work and build on the progress made so far.

The CICIG is an independent body which supports the public prosecutors’ office, the national civilian police and other institutions to investigate a limited number of sensitive and difficult cases regarding illegal security groups and clandestine security organizations.

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