A judge in Guatemala’s Third Criminal Court has dropped terrorism-related charges against four individuals, including Deputy Minister Luis Pacheco and three other Indigenous leaders. The dismissal came at prosecutors’ request after they conducted their own investigation and determined that the defendants had not violated any laws through their organizational activities. The four had been charged with illicit association, terrorism, and obstructing justice in connection with demonstrations held in October 2023.
The charges stemmed from protests that called for the resignation of former Attorney General Consuelo Porras, who faced accusations of attempting to block President Bernardo Arevalo’s assumption of office following his 2023 election victory. Pacheco, who serves as deputy minister of sustainable development, previously held leadership roles with the 48 Cantones of Totonicapan, a Maya Indigenous authority based in western Guatemala known for organizing demonstrations. The other defendants included Hector Chaclan, Basilio Puac, and Esteban Toc, who held various positions within Indigenous governance structures.
The case’s dismissal reflects the broader decline of prosecutions initiated under Porras’s tenure as attorney general. International bodies including the United States, European Union, and Canada had imposed sanctions on Porras based on allegations of corruption, persecution of human rights advocates, and interference with the presidential election process. Her efforts to secure a third term as attorney general ended in April when a judicial commission excluded her from its list of recommended candidates.
Pacheco had been suspended from his ministry position during the pendency of the case. The ministry expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision and indicated the official would return to his duties. The United Nations human rights office stated that the ruling reinforced protections for freedom of expression and assembly while acknowledging Indigenous communities’ legitimate organizational practices. The decision aligns with President Arevalo’s administration, which has prioritized overturning prosecutions determined to be politically motivated, with his newly appointed attorney general committing to review cases deemed arbitrarily brought under his predecessor.
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