Ecobreves – GUATEMALA: Environmental Laws Need Enforcement

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

GUATEMALA CITY, Jun 16 2003 (IPS) - The Guatemalan Center for Legal Environmental and Social Action (CALAS) has asked President Alfonso Portillo to enforce the laws for protecting natural resources and to step up activity at the Prosecutor's Office for Crimes against the Environment. “This government promised an ambitious environmental policy, but is not going to change the laws before the end of the term in January 2004, so we have asked that they reinforce the prosecutor's office for going after eco-crimes,” CALAS consultant Edwin Garzona told Tierramérica.

“We are also asking that they enforce the existing laws for fighting deforestation and lumber theft,” he said. The authorities are currently engaged in more than 20 lawsuits against companies and individuals accused of illegal logging and lumber trade.

CALAS is demanding a “coherent policy” against those who commit ecological crimes related to the forests, including those responsible for fires.

Guatemalan law establishes penalties of less than a year in prison and fines of 640 to 12,820 dollars for persons found guilty of intentionally setting forest fires