AP, GUATEMALA CITY
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.”
Guatemalan Attorney General Gabriel Garcia Luna speaks during a news conference in Guatemala City on May 17.
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.”
