SEEKING TO IMPROVE SECURITY, COLOM REPLACES

C O N F I D E N T I A L GUATEMALA 000017 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2019 TAGS: PGOV SNAR ASEC PHUM KCRM GT SUBJECT: SEEKING TO IMPROVE SECURITY, COLOM REPLACES MINISTER OF GOVERNMENT Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor Drew Blakeney for reasons 1.4 (b&d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) On January 7, President Colom named Salvador Gandara to replace Francisco Jimenez as Minister of Government, the position that has responsibility for the police and domestic security. Gandara is a tough and ambitious politician who has earned a reputation as an effective administrator, especially in the security and social welfare fields. He is widely viewed as a protege of the First Lady. Gandara has a record of cooperating effectively with the USG. Jimenez, a left-leaning academic, was bright but an ineffectual leader and manager. While there is reason to be optimistic about Gandara's appointment, no individual, no matter how promising, can be an adequate substitute for the deep, structural reforms that Guatemala's rule of law apparatus needs. End Summary. Colom Replaces Minister of Government -------------- ¶2. (C) On Jan. 7, Salvador Gandara, who had been serving as President Colom's Secretary for Executive Coordination, was sworn-in as Minister of Government. As MinGov, he has responsibility for domestic security, and oversees the National Civilian Police (PNC),the Immigration Service, the Penitentiary System, and the Directorate of Civilian Intelligence (DIGICI). During his swearing-in ceremony, Gandara said he would not make any immediate personnel changes. He replaces Francisco Jimenez, a left-leaning academic previously in charge of the DIGICI. As narco-massacres and other signs of a deteriorating security situation alarmed the public during Jimenez's six-month tenure in 2008, he became a political liability to Colom. Jimenez has been shunted to a Technical Coordinator position at the National Security Council. ¶3. (U) Given his reputation as a tough and effective administrator, Gandara's appointment generally has been well received, including by the political opposition. Human rights groups have reacted negatively, however, alleging that police committed social cleansing killings in Villa Nueva during Gandara's tenure as mayor. Some decried Gandara's appointment as signaling a return to Guatemala's authoritarian past. (Comment: Human rights leader Helen Mack was a strong supporter of Jimenez, and had persuaded the President to pick him.) Prior to his appointment, Gandara �A;told NAS personnel he is supportive of vetting officers assigned to sensitive units based on his experience with the NAS-supported Villa Nueva model precinct, as well as strengthening internal police controls. Gandara is widely viewed as being a protege of First Lady Sandra de Colom. Biographic Note -------------- ¶4. (C) Salvador Gandara got his start in government as a bodyguard and Director of Municipal Police for (then and again now) Mayor of Guatemala City Alvaro Arzu in 1986, and once personally stopped a knife attack against the Mayor. During 1988-1995 he was Director of Guatemala City's Food for Work program, serving Mayor Arzu and then Mayor Oscar Berger. Arzu became President in 1996, and named Gandara to be the Secretary of Social Welfare, but transferred him later that year to be Vice Minister of Government for Security. As Vice Minister, Gandara oversaw the establishment of the new QMinister, Gandara oversaw the establishment of the new National Civilian Police (PNC),as provided for by the 1996 Peace Accords. During that period, he cooperated closely with the Embassy in advancing USG counternarcotics objectives. He was removed as Vice Minister in 1998 on allegations that he had received kickbacks on a food contract for the police academy. ¶5. (C) In 1999, Gandara won election as Mayor of Villa Nueva, a tough, working class Guatemala City suburb of more than a million inhabitants, and was twice re-elected. In that position, he worked closely with the Embassy, including in the 2004 establishment of the successful Model Police Precinct. Gandara then joined the Colom Government, working directly for the President as Secretary for Executive Coordination. He is charismatic and likes dealing with the press. Gandara is a rising star, and is mentioned as a possible future contender for the presidency. ¶6. (C) Gandara studied business in El Salvador but is not a college graduate, and speaks little English. He has been married four times (twice to the same woman),has seven children, and had a reputation as a philanderer. He was later born again, and is now an Elder of Cash Luna's evangelical mega-church, "House of God." End Bio Note. Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) Gandara is a tough, effective operator who is good at public relations and has cooperated well with the USG. He is energetic, knows local government, and has the support of the Pesident and First Lady. However, Wyatt Earp himsef couldn't bring law and order to Guatemala without profound reform of the country's rule of law institutions. Gandara now faces the distinct but related tasks of reforming rule of law institutions and slowing, and eventually reversing, the deterioration of the security situation. Septel will report on Ambassador's Jan. 9 meeting with Gandara. McFarland