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Rodrigo Rosenberg Marzano

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Rodrigo Rosenberg Marzano
BornNovember 28, 1960
DiedMay 10, 2009 (aged 48)
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Cause of deathSuicide by hitman
NationalityGuatemala
Alma materRafael Landívar University
OccupationAttorney
ChildrenFour

Rodrigo Rosenberg Marzano (November 28, 1960 – May 10, 2009) was a Guatemalan attorney. Before his death, Rosenberg recorded a video message saying if he were murdered, Álvaro Colom Caballeros, President of Guatemala, would have been directly responsible.[1] His subsequent "assassination" caused a national uproar.[2] However, it was determined by a United Nations commission that Rosenberg had arranged his own death and had contacted cousins of his former wife to hire a hitman.[3][4]

Career

Rosenberg graduated with honors from Rafael Landívar University in Guatemala City. He earned a Master of Arts degree in International Law and Comparative Law from the University of Cambridge and a Master of Arts in Commercial Law and International Law from Harvard University.[5]

In 1987 Rosenberg co-founded Rosenberg-Marzano, Marroquin-Pemueller & Asociados, S.C., a law firm. He specialized in Business/Commercial, Corporate, International, Trademark, Constitutional, Tax, and Procedural Law. He was also on the legal staff of Rodríguez Mahuad & Asociados, another law firm, and was appointed Vice-Dean of the Law School at Rafael Landívar University. He also served as president of the Board of Directors of CENAC Foundation (Center for Arbitration and Mediation).[5]

Alleged assassination

Rosenberg's pre-recorded video message claiming that President Colom would be responsible if he were killed

Rodrigo Rosenberg Marzano was shot dead on May 10, 2009, while bicycling in Guatemala City. A videotape he had recorded claimed that President Álvaro Colom Caballero wanted him dead and would be responsible should he be murdered:[6] "If you are watching this message, it is because I was assassinated by President Álvaro Colom, with help from Gustavo Alejos" (Álvaro Colom's private secretary).[7]

Rodrigo claimed his death would be due to his involvement with two clients: Khalil Musa, a prominent businessman, and Musa's daughter, Marjorie, who were both assassinated on April 14, 2009. Khalil Musa had been summoned by members of President Colom's government to serve on the board of Guatemala's Banrural bank, where Rodrigo Rosenberg claimed his client was used throughout corrupt negotiations. According Rodrigo Rosenberg, when the corrupt negotiations ended, it was agreed to murdered Musa and his daughter to ensure their silence.[8]

Video aftermath

File:Colom1.jpg
President Colom rejected all accusations, claiming that all aspects of the Rosenberg video were "completely fake".

The controversy escalated when Attorney General and Head of the Public Prosecutor's Office Amílcar Velásquez was seen leaving the private residence of President Álvaro Colom.[9] After their meting, the two dignitaries gave contradictory reasons for their meeting, which raised skepticism about the impartiality of the investigation.[10] President Colom appeared on national television to reject Rosenberg's accusations and called for both the United Nations and the FBI to investigate.[11]

In an interview with CNN Español, Colom asserted the video Rodrigo Rosenberg was "completely fake",[12] thus challenging early reports from the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), which validated its authenticity.[13]

On May 13, 2009, the United States Ambassador to Guatemala, Stephen G. McFarland, confirmed that FBI personnel had arrived in Guatemala to aid in the investigation.[14]

At least one blogger, Jean Anleu Fernández, was arrested on charges of "inciting financial panic". Anleu had suggested on the social messaging network Twitter that all account holders should withdraw their funds from Banrural.[15] He was placed under house arrest on May 14, 2009. Anleu's short message, "Primera accion real ’sacar el pisto de Banrural’ quebrar al banco de los corruptos.", resulted in a judge ordering his detention and suggesting a fine of up to GTQ50,000.[16] Attempts to censor Anleu's message backfired,[17] because of internet phenomenon called the Streisand effect. A Guatemalan appeals ruled on 10 July 2009 that the case lacked merit. Some US$7,000 was spent on Anleu's legal fees, half contributed by Twitter users by Paypal.[18]

United Nations Investigation

On September 11, 2009, Guatemalans police arrested seven men, including former policemen and gang members, who were charged with Rosenberg's killing.[19]

In January 2010, the United Nations announced the results of its own investigation, concluding that Rosenberg had arranged his own death.[20] He had asked two cousins of his ex-wife to arrange the assassination of a man he claimed was blackmailing him. However, the target actually was in reality himself. The cousins contracted eleven guns-for-hire, most of whom were former or current military or police officers.[21]

The UN commission said Rosenberg had been depressed over the murder of Khalil Musa, and especially of Musa's daughter, with whom he had had a long-term relationship. His death therefore was simply a bizarre suicide[21][22]

References

  1. ^ YouTube video
  2. ^ Rodrigo Rosenberg acusa al Presidente de Guatemala de su asesinato
  3. ^ Guatemalan leader cleared of murder CSMonitor
  4. ^ Carroll, Rory (2010-01-13). "Lawyer in YouTube murder plot video hired his own assassins – UN". Guardian UK.
  5. ^ a b "RRMMP law firm". rrmmp.com. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
  6. ^ "Lawyer accuses Guatemala leader". news.bbc.co.uk. 2009-05-12. Retrieved 2008-05-12.
  7. ^ "Guatemala rejects allegations of role in lawyer's death". cnn.com. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
  8. ^ "Document left by Rodrigo Rosenberg Marzano – Guatemala". guate360.com. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
  9. ^ "Fiscal General es sorprendido cuando salía de una reunión con Colom esta mañana". prensalibre.com. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
  10. ^ "Colom y Fiscal dan versiones diferentes sobre reunión de esta mañana". prensalibre.com. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
  11. ^ "Guatemala: Slain Lawyer Left Tape Blaming President". nytimes.com. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
  12. ^ "Colom asegura a CNN que no renunciará por video". prensalibre.com. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
  13. ^ "Cicig confirma autenticidad de video". lahora.com.gt. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
  14. ^ "Embajador de EE. UU. confirma que investigador del FBI ya está en Guatemala". prensalibre.com. Retrieved 2009-05-13. {{cite web}}: Text "workprensalibre.com" ignored (help)
  15. ^ "Capturan a usuario de la red social Twitter por crear pánico financiero". prensalibre.com. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
  16. ^ "The assassinated lawyer, the arrested Twitterer – corruption, whistleblowing and protest in Guatemala". prensalibre.com. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
  17. ^ "Entre links y el efecto "streisand", twitteros protestan en la red". prensalibre.com. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  18. ^ "Guatemalan court rules in favor of tweet author". Associated Press. 2009-07-10.
  19. ^ "Seven held in Guatemalan lawyer's death". CNN.com. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  20. ^ http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/12/guatemala.lawyer.slaying/index.html
  21. ^ a b The Guatemalan Who Ordered His Own Murder Time Magazine.
  22. ^ Guatemala: Investigation Reveals Rosenberg Masterminded His Own Murder Global Voices Online.
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