Julio César Méndez Montenegro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Julio César Méndez Montenegro
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| 35th President of Guatemala | |
| In office July 1, 1966 – July 1, 1970 |
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| Vice President | Clemente Marroquín Rojas (1966–1970) |
| Preceded by | Enrique Peralta Azurdia |
| Succeeded by | Carlos Arana Osorio |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 23, 1915 Guatemala City  Guatemala |
| Died | April 30, 1996 (aged 80) Guatemala City Guatemala |
| Political party | Revolutionary Party |
| Spouse | Sara de la Hoz (1919–2015) |
| Parents | Marcial Méndez and Mélida Montenegro |
| Alma mater | Universidad de San Carlos |
Julio César Méndez Montenegro (born November 23, 1915 – died April 30, 1996) was the President of Guatemala from July 1, 1966, to July 1, 1970. He was elected because he promised to make Guatemala more democratic. He also wanted to reduce the military's power.
Méndez Montenegro was the only civilian president during a long period of military rule. This period lasted from 1954 to 1986. When he became president, he made an agreement with the military. This agreement gave the armed forces a lot of control over security matters. It also gave them a say in government decisions. Still, his election was seen as a big change for Guatemala.
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Becoming President (1966–1970)
In 1966, Julio César Méndez Montenegro became President of Guatemala. This was a big surprise to many people. He was a law professor, not a military leader. His election was a historic moment for Guatemala. It marked a shift from many years of military rule. Before him, only Juan Jose Arévalo had finished a full term as a civilian president. Arévalo was president from 1945 to 1951.
During Méndez Montenegro's time as president, the United States increased its military help to Guatemala. The U.S. sent Colonel John Webber Jr. to help modernize Guatemala's army. The U.S. trained Guatemalan soldiers and provided modern equipment. They also helped set up special units to fight terrorism.
With this support, the Guatemalan Army launched a campaign against rebel groups. These groups were fighting in the mountains and countryside. The army successfully fought against them. The rebels, like the Rebel Armed Forces (FAR), then moved their attacks to Guatemala City. They assassinated many government officials and U.S. advisors. This included the American ambassador, John Gordon Mein, in 1968.
A Difficult Time: "White Terror"
During Méndez Montenegro's presidency, violence increased. This period is sometimes called the "White Terror." The army and security forces carried out many killings, torture, and disappearances. This means people were taken away and never seen again. This violence was strongest in the southeastern part of the country. Colonel Carlos Manuel Arana Osorio was in charge there.
In March 1966, thirty people connected to the Guatemalan Party of Labour (PGT) were kidnapped and killed. This was one of the first big cases of forced disappearances in Latin America. When law students tried to find these people using legal methods, some students also disappeared.
President Méndez Montenegro allowed the armed forces to use "any means necessary" to stop the rebels. This meant the security forces did not have to follow the law. They used terror to control people. Thousands of civilians were killed or "disappeared" during this time. The violence was worst in eastern Guatemala and in Guatemala City. In the east, government forces attacked villages and killed many civilians. They wanted to break up rebel bases.
Some people said that up to 15,000 Guatemalans were killed by the military. This happened in just three years of Méndez's presidency. The goal was to eliminate fewer than 300 Marxist rebels. Amnesty International estimated that 3,000 to 8,000 farmers were killed by the military. Colonel Arana, who led the army, was known as the "Butcher of Zacapa." Victims included rebel supporters, union leaders, students, and anyone seen as an "enemy of the government."
The government's harsh actions made the rebels fight back even harder. The "White Terror" forced the FAR rebels to move to Guatemala City. There, they began to kill members of the security forces and U.S. military advisors. They assassinated the American ambassador, John Gordon Mein, in 1968. They also killed the German ambassador, Karl Von Spreti, in 1970.
Special Army Units
After Méndez Montenegro became president, he appointed Colonel Rafael Arriaga Bosque as Defense Minister. Méndez also created a special army unit called the 'Special Commando Unit of the Guatemalan Army' (SCUGA). This unit was led by Colonel Máximo Zepeda starting in 1967. SCUGA handled most of the government's operations against the PGT in cities.
SCUGA was made up of both military and civilian members. It worked to gather information and carry out attacks. SCUGA members often kidnapped, bombed, killed, tortured, and executed people. These were people they thought were communists. SCUGA often worked with the Fourth Corps of the Guatemalan National Police. These groups sometimes pretended to be other paramilitary groups or death squads. They used names like NOA, CADEG, CRAG, and RAYO. SCUGA also worked with real paramilitary groups like the infamous Mano Blanca ("White Hand").
Mano Blanca
Mano Blanca, or the Movement of Organized Nationalist Action, was formed in 1966. It was a group that carried out violent actions for a political party. Many other similar groups existed, like the New Anticommunist Organization. These groups were connected to a government system that linked them to the military and police. This system was built on groups created by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) after a coup in 1954.
Many members of Mano Blanca were army officers. They received money from wealthy landowners. They also got information from military intelligence. Mano Blanca was one of the few death squads directly linked to a political party. Most such groups were "phantom organizations." They were created so the Guatemalan military could do illegal things.
Mano Blanca began a campaign of "kidnappings, torture, and executions." One of their main targets was the Partido Revolucionario (PR). This was an anti-communist group. It was the only major reform-focused party allowed to operate under the military-controlled government. They also targeted banned leftist parties. Many PR members had been involved in a land reform program started by former president Jacobo Arbenz in 1952. These people were targeted by Mano Blanca. When it was founded, Mano Blanca specifically aimed to stop Méndez Montenegro from becoming president.
Human rights activist Blase Bonpane said that Mano Blanca's actions were part of the Guatemalan government's policy. He also said they were part of the United States government's policy and the CIA's actions. Mano Blanca was responsible for the death of César Montenegro Paniagua. He was a communist politician. He was killed after the German ambassador, Karl von Spreti, was killed by FAR rebels. Mano Blanca also sent death threats to a student leader. The leader of Mano Blanca said the student needed to be killed because he was a communist. Overall, Mano Blanca was responsible for thousands of murders and kidnappings.
See also
In Spanish: Julio César Méndez Montenegro para niños
