Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz
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| Born | 13 March 1931 Cochabamba, Bolivia
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| Died | 17 July 1980 (aged 49) La Paz, Bolivia
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| Alma mater | University of Chile |
| Occupation | Writer, journalist, politician |
| Political party | Socialist Party Socialist Party-1 |
| Spouse(s) |
María Cristina Trigo
(m. 1954) |
Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz (born March 13, 1931 – died July 17, 1980) was an important writer, journalist, and political leader from Bolivia. He was known for being a strong voice for social justice. In 1964, Marcelo won a special award for his novel Los Deshabitados. He was a socialist, which means he believed in fairness and equality for all people.
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About Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz
Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz married María Cristina Trigo in 1954. They had a daughter named María Soledad in 1957. Later, their son Pablo Rodrigo was born in 1959.
Marcelo's Work in Politics
Marcelo was a member of the Bolivian Congress. He was put in jail by the government of General René Barrientos because he spoke out. He strongly criticized the San Juan Massacre in 1967. During this event, many miners were killed by the army.
In 1969, Marcelo became the Minister of Mining and Energy. He helped the government take control of the Bolivian operations of the Gulf Oil Company. This meant the oil company, which was owned by a US company, became owned by Bolivia instead. This decision made him very famous in his country.
Later, Marcelo left the government. He then started his own political group called the Partido Socialista in 1971. This group later became known as Partido Socialista-1. This happened while he was living outside Bolivia during the time General Hugo Banzer was in charge.
When he returned to Bolivia in 1977, Marcelo ran for president several times. He did very well in the 1980 election. He was becoming a very popular leader for people who wanted social change. From his position in Congress, he worked to bring former leader Hugo Banzer to court. He wanted Banzer to be held responsible for human rights problems and bad economic decisions.
Marcelo's Death and Legacy
On July 17, 1980, a new military leader, General Luis Garcia Meza, took control of the country. During this time, Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz was taken away and killed. Many people saw him being hurt and taken by soldiers. He was at a meeting trying to find ways to stop the new government.
Years later, in 1986, Garcia Meza and others were found guilty for Marcelo's death. Garcia Meza was sent to prison in 1995 and stayed there until he died in 2018.
Marcelo's body was never found. In 2010, his wife, María Cristina Trigo, asked for help from an international human rights group. She wanted the Bolivian government to find his remains.
Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz is remembered as a hero in Bolivia. He was a great speaker and believed strongly in his ideals. He is seen as one of the people who fought for freedom and democracy in the 1970s.
Marcelo's Books
Essays
El Saqueo de Bolivia (1979)
Novels
Los Deshabitados (1964)
See also
In Spanish: Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz para niños
