AMBASSADOR WEIGHS IN WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL DE LEON

C O N F I D E N T I A L GUATEMALA 000248 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2013 TAGS: PHUM PREL PINR KJUS GT SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR WEIGHS IN WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL DE LEON ON GERARDI AND CHOCON CASES REF: A. GUATEMALA 231 ¶B. GUATEMALA 207 Classified By: Ambassador John R. Hamilton, for reason 1.5 (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: The Ambassador phoned Attorney General Carlos de Leon on January 29 to enlist his immediate action on the investigation of a recent Gerardi witness murder (Ref A) and the protection of the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights, Tatiana Morales, who has been receiving threats coincidental to her involvement in the Chocon case, which is set to go to trial on January 30. De Leon responded that he was initiating an investigation into the murder and doing the best he could to protect Morales. The Ambassador thanked him for his efforts and for his work on the case involving two Peace Corps Volunteers (Ref B). End Summary. ¶2. (C) The Ambassador phoned Attorney General Carlos de Leon on January 29 to express concern over the murder of Noe Gomez Limon, the brother of a key witness in the high-profile murder case of Guatemalan Archbishop Gerardi. The Ambassador noted that human rights and press sources tell us that the Public Ministry has yet to open an investigation into his murder. The Ambassador said that he hoped these sources were mistaken, but suggested the need for the Public Ministry to investigate the murder both vigorously and publicly. De Leon responded that the Public Ministry was indeed investigating the murder, but agreed that they should do so more publicly. ¶3. (C) The Ambassador noted as well that Tatiana Morales, the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights Cases, has been receiving threats because of her involvement in the Chocon case, which is set to go to trial on January 30 in the High Impact Court of Chiquimula. (NOTE: This is the trial of 16 former anti-narcotics police who killed two civilians and sought to cover it up.) The Ambassador noted that Morales is reportedly unable to communicate effectively from Chiquimula with her office and asked that that situation be fixed. ¶4. (C) De Leon said he was on top of the situation, that he was providing Morales with an armored vehicle and follow car with armed guards for the time she is in Chiquimula, and that the National Civilian Police are providing 50 policemen for courtroom security and order. De Leon has just met with the President of the Supreme Court, who was concerned about threats to one of the three judges in the case. The judge was considering withdrawing from the case. De Leon (and the Supreme Court President, who phoned for the Ambassador later on the same subject) said the judge wanted to move his son and other immediate family members to the US to be with relatives, temporarily. The Ambassador arranged with the Consular Section to assure expeditious consideration of their visas. ¶5. (C) The Ambassador also expressed appreciation to De Leon for the support (which has, with RSO prodding, been good) the Public Ministry has given in the investigation of the assault on two Peace Corps Volunteers. Hamilton