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Opening Statement
Ranking Member Dan Burton
Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
Committee on Foreign Affairs
June 26, 2007
Violence in Central America

Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding this hearing today. I am glad we have gathered to discuss this topic that not only plagues Central America, but is a major source of angst in the United States.

Given the fluid movement of illegal activity that transcends national boundaries, the consequences for the entire region, including the United States, would be devastating if democracy and the rule of law were to completely collapse in Central America.

Ending the violence is critical if we are to prevent the disintegration of a number of states on our southern border. I see two important targets to keep in mind as we look to stem the tide of violence in Central America.

The first target is gangs. This Subcommittee held a hearing on the question of transnational gangs last year and the facts were sobering.

• Gangs are a growing transnational problem, with the largest, and deadliest gang (MS13) - employing thousands of members across Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico - with original roots within the United States.
• Some 90% of cocaine shipped from the Andes to the United States makes its way through Central American countries.
• The drug trade that traverses Central American countries on the way from South America to the United States breeds violence and instability within each of those regions.
• Any discussion on violence must address the drug trade and its connection to transnational gang activity.

The second target is women and girls, specifically putting an end to the apparently severe disregard for protecting women that seems to permeate the culture of some of our neighbors to the south. For example:

• A well known practice in parts of Central America and Mexico has been termed femicide, or female genocide. The killings of women and girls are often characterized by extreme viciousness, often involving rape, torture, mutilation, and dismemberment.
• I have introduced and supported legislation that brings to light the threats women face in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and in Guatemala on a daily basis, and called for the establishment and enforcement of policies to correct this type of gross abandonment of the law.
• Some steps have been taken to address this problem. For example, in 2006 Guatemala deemed unconstitutional its "Rape Law" (Article 200) whereby a rapist was able to escape charges by offering to marry his victim.
• However, I believe a great deal more must be done to protect women and girls from cases of domestic abuse and rape. Perpetrators of these crimes must know that they will be prosecuted and punished under a "just" court of law.

I have contacted USAID to ask for increased funding for forensic studies and to support non-governmental organizations investigating these cases and rooting out corruption in the legal system. Corruption leads to a sense of impunity which not only undermines people's trust in their legal system but encourages criminals to greater acts of violence and terror. The police must be trained and equipped with proper skills and tools to combat crime in order for corruption and high levels of impunity to cease.

I believe we must address these problems seriously and we must do it now. The longer we wait the more fragile democracy, stability and the rule of law becomes in Central America. I look forward to hearing from our esteemed panelists on their views for the way forward.