Kjell Eugenio Laugerud García facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
General
Kjell Eugenio Laugerud García
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| 36th President of Guatemala | |
| In office 1 July 1974 – 1 July 1978 |
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| Vice President | Mario Sandoval Alarcón |
| Preceded by | Carlos Arana Osorio |
| Succeeded by | Fernando Romeo Lucas Garcia |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 January 1930 Guatemala City, Guatemala |
| Died | 9 December 2009 (aged 79) Guatemala City, Guatemala |
| Alma mater | United States Army Command and General Staff College |
| Profession | Military officer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Guatemala |
| Branch/service | Guatemalan Army |
| Rank | General |
General Kjell Eugenio Laugerud García (born January 24, 1930 – died December 9, 2009) was a military officer from Guatemala. He served as the 36th President of Guatemala from 1974 to 1978. His father was from Norway, and his mother was from Guatemala.
Contents
Life and Career
Early Military Training
Laugerud received some of his military education in the United States. He attended classes at Fort Benning, Georgia. He also studied at the Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. From 1968 to 1970, he represented Guatemala on the Inter-American Defense Board.
Becoming President of Guatemala
Before becoming president, Laugerud was the chief of the army staff. He also served as the defense minister under President Carlos Arana starting in 1972. He was elected president in March 1974. His election was supported by the military-backed Institutional Democratic Party. He also had the support of the National Liberation Movement.
Key Events During His Presidency
The 1976 Earthquake
During his time as president, Guatemala faced a very difficult challenge. A terrible earthquake hit the country in 1976. This natural disaster caused a lot of damage and hardship for many people.
Disputes with Belize
Laugerud's presidency also saw ongoing disagreements with neighboring Belize. These disputes were about the territory between the two countries.
Changes in Foreign Aid
In 1977, the Carter administration in the United States released a report. This report talked about human rights in Guatemala. After this, President Laugerud announced that Guatemala would no longer accept military aid from the U.S. However, Guatemala did receive some funds that had already been planned for that year. Later, Guatemala looked to other countries for military help and weapons. These countries included Israel, Spain, Belgium, Sweden, Taiwan, and Yugoslavia.
A Difficult Event in Panzós
Near the end of his term, President Laugerud faced a sad event. This happened in a place called Panzós. It involved a difficult situation between the military and Kekchi civilians.
Later Life
In 1983, Laugerud and three other former presidents were asked to retire from the army. He passed away on December 9, 2009.
See also
In Spanish: Kjell Eugenio Laugerud García para niños
