Guatemala Tackles Organized Crime
Guatemalan Interior Minister Carlos Vielmann supports appointing "faceless" judges to battle organized crime in Guatemala.

Vielmann said the goal is to avoid exposing the magistrates to retaliation from accused and pointed out that there are faceless judges working worldwide.

He told Siglo Veintiuno daily that he believes "no poor judge will be able to take the pressure in Peten" (north). They earn 1,973 dollars and could be bribed by drug dealers and organized crime.

The so-called "faceless judges" were active in Guatemala under the government of Gen. Efrain Rios Montt (1982-1983) in the Special Courts set up to Judge dissenters and other leftwing opposition.

Vielmann added that setting up the commission to investigate illegal institutions and security bodies (CICIACS) would help fight organized crime and this type of adjudicator would be best.

Common criminals in youth gangs known as maras affect the poorest sectors, but organized crime is at the core (drug traffic, smuggling and traffic of humans).

In his view the scourge could be dealt with an official criminal policy but that demands coordinated effort.

The minister announced purchase of helicopters and weapons for police as well as criminal investigation technology, accompanied by a pay raise.