Guatemalan Attorney General Gabriel Garcia Luna, who took office in May, on Wednesday pledged to dismantle what he called the “repressive and vengeful” administration of his predecessor, who was sanctioned by multiple countries including the US for stifling anti-corruption efforts.
Guatemala took a turn under former Guatemalan attorney general Consuelo Porras, who stifled corruption cases, persecuted justice officials, activists and journalists, and drove many into exile. She also attempted to prevent Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo’s inauguration and invalidate his presidency by alleging fraud, which was never proven.
“Everyone has a concept of a Public Prosecutor’s Office that can be used in a certain way, and we can no longer have that,” Garcia Luna said. “It is not a political entity, nor a political weapon for anyone, and I do not intend to repeat the actions taken in previous administrations.”
Photo: AP
Garcia Luna has already begun moving the institution in a new direction by dismantling the network of Porras’ trusted administrative and prosecutorial staff, who were accused of criminalizing and persecuting former justice officials. He has also launched a commission to review cases of people criminalized.
Porras has denied the accusations against her. The Public Prosecutor’s Office while it was under her tenure said the accusations affect Porras’ “right to honor, dignity, reputation and the presumption of innocence.”
Garcia Luna expressed his commitment to radical change to the institution by reviewing potential abuses during the past administration and reviving the prosecutorial profession, which was battered by the exodus of qualified personnel under Porras.
His predecessor “formed a parallel government that destroyed the prosecutorial profession, mainly by dismissing between 800 and 1,000 employees during her eight-year tenure,” Garcia Luna said.
He did not rule out the possibility of legal action against Porras.
In cases where the prosecutor’s office, under Porras’ orders, benefited or allowed the release of alleged corrupt officials, drug traffickers and those accused of other crimes, the prosecutor stated that these cases are being reviewed, reopened and that legal action would be taken to ensure there is no impunity.
Many, including former prosecutor Juan Francisco Sandoval, who lives in exile after denouncing persecution by Porras for his work on high-impact corruption cases, said the allegations against Porras and those in her administration should be subject to an “impartial and independent” investigation.
“These should not go unresolved, in accordance with the principle of equality before the law and the principle that no one should be above the law,” Sandoval said.
Garcia Luna already has international support, such as from the US government and countries of the EU, that have offered their backing in the fight against transnational crime, including drug trafficking and human trafficking.
The Attorney General’s Office is collaborating with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, which has scheduled a hearing for Aug. 4 to review cases of people who denounced political persecution under Porras, he added.
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