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