Guatemalan President Vetoes Bill Which Would Allow Resumption of Executions

The Congress of Guatemala has approved a bill which would re-establish the right of the President to grant pardon to prisoners facing execution. Due to regional and international human rights standards, the absence of this competency of the President makes the death penalty inapplicable.

In a courageous act, President Alvaro Colom vetoed the bill which would have allowed for the resumption of executions.

In a letter to President Colom, the ICDP welcomes the veto and offers him assistance if the further course of events may require it.