EL SALVADOR'S NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL A COMPROMISE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 000889 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL KJUS SNAR SOCI ES SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR'S NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL A COMPROMISE REF: SAN SALVADOR 733 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Robert Blau, for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d) ¶1. (C) Summary: El Salvador's Legislative Assembly chose Romeo Benjamin Barahona Melendez as its new Attorney General (AG) September 18 following a long power lacuna in the office. The AG has significant influence on law enforcement and security policy in El Salvador. Barahona promises a renewed focus on core law enforcement goals, but will need U.S. assistance to achieve them. End Summary. ¶2. (C) JudAtt met with Romeo Barahona, a former Deputy Attorney General, September 18 and 19, just prior to and following his unanimous confirmation by the National Assembly as El Salvador's Attorney General. Barahona said his priorities were: 1) homicides, 2) extorsions, and 3) corruption. He believes that all three are inherently gang-related. Barahona believes it is important to create a public perception that his office is aggressively attacking these problems. Barahona told JudAtt that he sees the gang problem as something that must be attacked holistically, but added that anti-gang efforts are hampered by systemic and infrastructure problems that will require U.S. assistance. ¶3. (U) In addition, he told the press that his priorities will be to strengthen investigative efforts, especially with regard to the use of scientific evidence, and to coordinate efforts between the Ministry of Public Security, the National Civilian Police (PNC in Spanish),and the judiciary. He also stated publicly that his focus will be on creating a "culture of respect for the law." ¶4. (C) Barahona was chosen as a compromise candidate after several months of Astor Escalante serving in an acting capacity. Nevertheless, his selection has met with widespread support from diverse sectors of society, notably the National Private Business Association (ANEP in Spanish) and the new director of the PNC, largely due to his extensive prior experience. Although Barahona had been one of the candidates considered when the office became vacant in April, he failed in earlier rounds to garner sufficient support from a majority of the legislators. Barahona had also been proposed as AG by the ARENA party in 2006, but his nomination was opposed by the FMLN. Barahona overcame FMLN objections this time, reportedly due to President Funes' mediation efforts. ¶5. (C) Barahona previously worked in the AG's office for nearly 10 years, and was a Deputy AG for approximately eight years, until February 2009, when President Saca replaced him with Astor Escalante, the former Deputy Minister of Public Security. Escalante became acting AG in April, and Barahona has been working as an advisor to the AG since then. ¶6. (C) Comment: The AG has significant influence on law enforcement and security policy in El Salvador. Given the impetus that Barahona's selection may provide to anti-gang and anti-corruption efforts, we believe that Merida funding to support the AG is warranted. Merida funding for the AG is justifiable on its own merits, but also as a counterweight to Public Security Minister Manuel Melgar. End Comment. BLAU