U.S. THREATENS GUATEMALA WITH DECERTIFICATION AGAIN AS GOVERNMENT STRUGGLES TO INNOVATE SECURITY MEASURES.

With key anti-crime legislation stalled in the Guatemalan legislature, it looks like the country may once again face the consequences of decertification by the US. The wrath of the superpower could be tempered somewhat by Guatemala's ratification of the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), say analysts. The stalled legislative package does not, however, mean the country is doing nothing about crime. An innovative approach to crime prevention with a human face began operation in the municipality of Villa Nueva with the support of some 300 evangelical churches, the business community, the Consejo de Desarrollo Urbano y Rural (CODEDUR), and the Comision Presidencial de Derechos Humanos (COPREDEH).

Villa Nueva is notorious as one of the most seriously dangerous and crime ridden sectors in the vast metropolitan area that makes up Guatemala City, but it is also one of the best organized and was for that reason chosen by COPREDEH for the pilot program. Villa Nueva mayor Salvador Gandara has worked to promote the formation of local security counsels, which have given their support to the project. The idea is to provide educational, recreational, and employment opportunity as an alternative for young people, many of whom have taken to common crime as a way of supporting themselves.

The churches support the venture not only to deter the avalanche of criminality that has buried the community but also as a means of proselytizing youthful offenders. The evangelicals have had some success in turning gangs toward religion, taking advantage of the observed fact that many gang members identified strongly as Christians. In June, more than 40 members of Salvatrucha and M18 left the gangs to join evangelical communities. They did this despite threats from their gangs.

The churches did more than just hook them up with Jesus. Said Marlon Alvarado of Santidad y Poder, "We have organized a plan to follow up and coordinate efforts to reinsert them into society."

COPREDEH took an interest in this work and got the government mobilized behind it (see NotiCen, 2005-06-30). "Now the Public and Government Ministries and human rights institutions must give protection to the boys," said Estuardo Meneses of COPREDEH.

Cooperation between the evangelicals, government, and other civil-society organizations began to increase. Emilio Goubaud of the Asociacion para la Prevencion del Delito (APREDE) said in June that it was necessary to seek integrated mechanisms...

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