Can we trust Francisco Dall’Anese?

The unusual, innovative, and highly successful International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala is under new management. The resignation of ex-Commissioner Carlos Castresana prompted a sudden national discouragement with one of the most innovative, probing attempts to cleanse a corrupt justice and security system ever known. Meaningful questions now rest on whether or not his successor, the present Attorney General of Costa Rica, Francisco Dall’Anese will be as successful as Castresana. Over the next few weeks, I will be exploring some of these questions as I read through Dall’Anese´s writings on justice and security, and explore some of his positions. I plan to investigate the following questions:

Question #1

Is it advantageous to have another Central American in charge of the CICIG? Central America is a unique region where judges may develop a tough-on-organized-crime record as a disguise. Organized crime is not one, static evil, but an ever-changing band of families and cartels that operate in different regions, use different tactics and develop opposing political alliances. An impressive record against corruption and impunity serves to quell public fears surrounding a judge´s professional integrity, while silently breaking down one criminal band in the service of another.

Question #2

Is Dall’Anese fully cognizant of the CICIG´s operations? Does his professional career demonstrate that he fully understands the amount of engagement and the advisory role that the CICIG must take to be successful? Is he motivated to act accordingly?

Question #2.5

Will he continue on as Attorney General of Costa Rica during his contract as CICIG Commissioner?

Question #3

Does he have sufficient knowledge of the Guatemalan context? Costa Rica did not suffer through 36 years of civil war, nor is San José among the most dangerous cities in the Western Hemisphere. There is no army embarrassingly reassigned to keep domestic order. Though similarities abound, the major difference between Costa Rica and Guatemala is in the quality of justice and security. I anticipate a weak performance from Dall’Anese should he treat Guatemala too much like his home country.

The answers will provide some insight into whether the strategy of the CICIG, or Castresana himself can be credited with the progress against impunity in Guatemala that has taken place over the past few years.