Guatemala leader asks US to pay for drug seizures

[Judi Lynn]

Mar 24, 9:28 PM EDT
Guatemala leader asks US to pay for drug seizures
By ROMINA RUIZ-GOIRIENA
Associated Press

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) -- Guatemala's president proposed Saturday that the United States and other "consumer" countries pick up the tab for the cost of drug seizures.

Otto Perez Molina made the comment during a Central America meeting that he called to discuss his earlier proposal to legalize drugs, a meeting that drew only two of his counterparts from the region.

"For every kilo of cocaine that is seized, we want to be compensated 50 percent by the consumer countries," he said.

The Guatemalan leader said the United States has a "responsibility" because it has one of the highest rates of drug use.

More:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LT_DRUG_WAR_CENTRAL_AMERICA?SECTION=HOME&SITE=AP&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Judi Lynn]

1. Guatemala sets out plans to shake up anti-drug policy

Guatemala sets out plans to shake up anti-drug policy
By Mike McDonald

ANTIGUA, Guatemala | Sat Mar 24, 2012 11:01pm EDT

(Reuters) - Guatemalan President Otto Perez on Saturday set out a raft of proposals to tackle rampant drug-fuelled violence in Central America, including decriminalization of narcotics or establishing a regional court to try traffickers.

"The proposal is decriminalization," Perez said at a regional summit to address security throughout the region. "We are talking about creating a legal framework to regulate the production, transit and consumption of drugs."

The discussion reflects growing concern in Central America about the cost of the war on drugs, which is prompting leaders to take an increasingly independent line from the United States, where officials have repeatedly rejected legalizing narcotics.

A retired general, Perez won election in November 2011 promising to crack down on organized crime. But he shifted from his hard-line message shortly after taking office in January, calling for a more open debate on drug policy.

More:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/25/us-guatemala-drugs-idUSBRE82O02320120325?rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&rpc=401

[Judi Lynn]

2. At Historic Drug Policy Summit, Guatemalan President Calls for Regional Legalization

Drug War Chronicle / ByPhillip Smith
At Historic Drug Policy Summit, Guatemalan President Calls for Regional Legalization

In Antigua, Guatemala, Guatemalan President Perez Molina suggested overhauling Central America's drug policy, but no consensus was reached.

March 25, 2012 |

In a historic meeting in Antigua, Guatemala, Saturday, three Central American heads of state attended a regional summit to discuss alternatives to the current drug prohibition regime, which has left their countries wracked by violence. No consensus was reached and three other regional leaders failed to attend, but for the first time, regional leaders have met explicitly to discuss ending the war on drugs as we know it.

"We have realized that the strategy in the fight against drug trafficking in the past 40 years has failed. We have to look for new alternatives," said the host, Guatemalan President Oscar Pérez Molina, a former army general who first called for such a meeting last month, shortly after taking office. "We must end the myths, the taboos, and tell people you have to discuss it, debate it."

According to the Associated Press, Pérez Molina said that drug use, production, and sales should be legalized and regulated. He suggested that the region jointly regulate the drug trade, perhaps by establishing transit corridors through which regulated drug shipments could pass.

Also in attendance were Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla and Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli. Former Colombian President Cesar Gaviria, a harsh critic of US-style drug policies and a member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy was an invited guest and addressed the summit. Outside of Central America, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Mexican President Felipe Calderon have expressed support for the meeting.

More:
http://www.alternet.org/drugs/154695/at_historic_drug_policy_summit,_guatemalan_president_calls_for_regional_legalization_