The US Influence in Guatemala by Rodrigo Arévalo

RODRIGO ARÉVALO SOTO INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SESSION NUMBER 1009-004 NOVEMBER 2010

U.S. Influence in Guatemala during Ydígoras Fuentes Presidency TO WHAT EXTEND DID U.S. PRESENCE EVENTUALLY LEAD TO THE EARLY GUATEMALAN CIVIL WAR DEVELOPMENT?

WORD COUNT 3,918 HISTORY EXTENDED ESSAY

RODRIGO ARÉVALO SOTO INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SESSION NUMBER 1009-004 NOVEMBER 2010

Abstract United States of America has always had great influence over Latin America due to its greater development rate. Since 1776, being the first country looking for its independence, tit became a role model for the entire American continent. However, during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, its authority was questioned, and a movement counter its imperialism began, led by the literary erudite. The writers from Latin America and Spain would eventually start nationalistic views. Nevertheless, those political views did not stand in Guatemala until the plain Cold War when the actions taken by United States to counteract Marxism-Leninism in Central America got obvious with a series of mistakes, which consequently led to the Guatemalan Civil War. Control from U.S. over Latin America governments has always supposed to be stealth, yet, during the1950’s and early 1960’s, their actions against communism insertion were really obvious. For example their inherence overthrowing Jacobo Arbenz from his legitimate elected presidency of Guatemala. Certainly, Guatemalans got upset with these actions, not because it was or not necessary in the war against Marxism-Leninism, but because the intervention was a rude interference in the recently achieved democracy. In spite of this, it all went to far when Ydígoras Fuentes got into presidency. Miguel Ydígoras Fuentes was claimed to be a convenient decision for U.S. roll in the Cold War (as a hero who looks after other countries), after all Ydígoras Fuentes showed a great temper and straight “right” wing (capitalist), he was even considered an extremist for his views. However his populism desire set him apart from the initial expectative U.S. had. Although he was considered purely rightist, he was accused of communism tolerance, and overthrew on this accusations leaving Guatemala wide open to the internal conflict that would finally end in 1996 with a peace treaty.

Word Count 299

RODRIGO ARÉVALO SOTO INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SESSION NUMBER 1009-004 NOVEMBER 2010

Index

Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………….………………Page 2 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………….…………………Page 4 Historical Context……………………………………………………………………….………………………Page 5 COLD WAR………………………………………………………………………………………………………..PAGE 5 CUBA’S PLACE IN THE WORLD…………………………………………...…………………………………..PAGE 7

The Puppeteer……………………………………………………………………….…………………..………Page 8 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.……………………………………………………..………………………..PAGE 8

Guatemalan Context……………………………………………………………………….…………...……Page 10 ARBENZ OVERTHROW…………………………………………………………………………..……………PAGE 10 CASTILLO ARMAS PRESIDENCY…………………………………………………………………….……..PAGE 11

The Broken Puppet……………………………………………………………………….………..…………Page 12 RUNNING FOR THE POWER…………………………………………………………………………..……..PAGE 12 EARLY STRUGGLES…………………………………………………………………………………...………PAGE 12 THE UPRISING…………………………………………………………………………………………..…...…PAGE 13 THE OVERTHROW….…………………………………………………………………………………….……PAGE 15

Guatemalan Civil War……………………………………………………………..……….…………..……Page 16 Conclusion…………………..………………………………………………………………….…………….…Page 17 Bibliography……………………………………………………………………….……………...……….……Page 19 Annexes…………………………………………………………………………….……………...……….……Page 22 MIGUEL YDÍGORAS FUENTES SHORT BIOGRAPHY…..………………………………………..……..PAGE 22

RODRIGO ARÉVALO SOTO INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SESSION NUMBER 1009-004 NOVEMBER 2010

Introduction After reading “Misuderstood Caudillo: Miguel Ydígoras Fuentes and the Failure of Democracy in Guatemala”, a paper published by Tulane’s Studies in Political Science and written by Roland H. Ebel, I realized the Cold War had a greater influence in Latin America than it appear. Since history is known as the science that tries to recognize the past to understand the present1, I got into history books looking for information that may clear up the present issues Guatemala struggles with. In the process, I gathered information about relevant issues that happened around 1960’s and I could conclude that was about this time when the real international conflict started; even when the war of interests started right after the World War II, was until late 50’s when radicalisms began. Extremism was the beginning of the climax in Guatemala. To really understand what was going on at that time, I will separate the essay in titles and subtitles relevant to the main subject. Titles will be a general view of the point I will try to reach, while the subtitles are specific according to the title statement. I have divided the essay in five general statements: Historical Context, The Puppeteer, Guatemalan Context, The Broken Puppet and Guatemalan Civil War. In the «The Puppeteer» I will expose the influence United States of America has possess an important role in economy since 1870’s, and how the relationship between U.S. and Guatemala evolved. Then in «The Broken Puppet» I will try to give a clear picture of how Ydígoras Fuentes administration would finally led to the «Guatemalan Civil War»; a war that lasted more than 30 years. The work will present historical context both international and Guatemalan to give a proper comparison. Since most of the proper bibliographic information comes from erudite and literary figures from Guatemala and Latin America, some quotations will a rough translation from the original (written in Spanish), and will be properly identified as a bibliographic reference with a footnote.

Gómez Navarro, José L.; Historia Universal; Pearson Educación, Prentice Hall; first edition 1998; Printed in Mexico, EDAMSA IMPRESIONES, S.A.

RODRIGO ARÉVALO SOTO INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SESSION NUMBER 1009-004 NOVEMBER 2010

Historical Context

COLD WAR The Cold War developed just few after de World War II. There was an ideals disagreement between Soviets and U.S. since the theoretical fall of imperialism. United States defended the right (capitalism) and Soviets were in favor of left thinking (communism). However during World War II both States and Soviets allied against German’s Nazi regime. The alliance was easily corrupted after Nazi surrender; the Soviets took advantage of the situation and placed left wing governments in Western Europe. “The Soviets (…) were determined to maintain control of Eastern Europe in order to safeguard against any possible renewed threat from Germany, and they were intent on spreading communism worldwide, largely for ideological reasons”2. Like a fast an unstoppable cancer, the conflict of ideals expanded worldwide. Countries took sides, you were either communist or capitalist, there were no mid terms. The government stood on one side, and the people on the other, civil wars and chaos everywhere. The real conflict was purely ideological; defining which philosophy was the one that would bring development was really important. The idea was to prove either communism or capitalism to be the one that would stand out bringing peace and common wealth. Soviets needed support, and they needed it fast since capitalism had proven to work since industrialization. It was quite obvious that rich and powerful people (bureaucrats) preferred right wing ideals, but this new tendency, the communism, favored the working class, and it was younger than capitalism. The whole Soviet philosophy was centered in working class. The communism practiced by soviets is an interpretation and modification that Lenin made out of the “Communist Manifesto” of Marx.

The ideal of communism is bringing peace in society providing

security and stable economy and equality. “Marx believed the only way to ensure a happy, 2

THE NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA, Volume 3, 15th Edition, 1995, page 444: Cold War.

RODRIGO ARÉVALO SOTO INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SESSION NUMBER 1009-004 NOVEMBER 2010 harmonious society was to have the workers in control”3. However the centralization deprived citizens from freedom, leaving just a few issues from the person’s life on their own control. However there are two distinctive facts about Soviet communism: their members were not really influential on their own, and they were poor, which, at the time, was looked as the worst curse; however they took advantage of being a clear majority in societies. The United States and its European allies formed a resistance against communism in Europe. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was established to counteract Soviets presence in Europe and the loss of American atomic bomb monopoly. The crescent tension of nuclear attacks threats and invasions was relieved from 1953 to 1957 after Joseph Stalin’s death. The military organization of Soviets barely existed. During 1955 Soviet countries established the WARSAW PACT to finally get real military organization. A whole different story is the capitalism. It has its beginnings in mercantilism practiced in Europe during XVI century to XVIII century. The first step to capitalism in history was taken by the physiocrats, a group of French economist from XVIII century, who believed governments should stop getting in the way in the free foreign trade4.

This is the

foundation of the modern Free Trade Agreement. Free trade is the most noticeable characteristic of capitalism. Also the Scottish economist Adam Smith thought so. “ He believed that people who followed their economic best interests would automatically act in the economic best interest of society”5 The capitalism allows individuals to act in their economical best as they wish and governments can’t interfere. However there is a problem that comes along with capitalism, it often brings unequal distribution of wealth caused by the economical freedom. Capitalism has faced struggle in history; “its most serious challenge during the Great Depression, a worldwide business slump that began in 1929”6.

THE WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA; World Book; Volume 4, Ci-Cz; 1984 page 726a; COMMUNISM.

Interview with Luis Cobar, degree in history and education. July, Monday 26 2010 15:00hrs UTC/GMT -6.

THE WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA; World Book; Volume 3, C-Ch; 1984 page 158; CAPITALISM.

Ibidem.

RODRIGO ARÉVALO SOTO INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SESSION NUMBER 1009-004 NOVEMBER 2010

CUBA’S PLACE IN THE WORLD In Latin America communist parties tended to be passive and not aggressive at all, basically they were just to prove communist ideas were present in Latin America. However in Cuba the Communist Party was really ambitious and was looking for power and proved it when it “collaborated with the U.S. overthrowing military regime of Fulgencio Batista, the leader of a nascent revolutionary movement ”7. The movement's victory in 1956 was a key for Latin American Marxists; it was the first step for the Cuban revolutionary regime, the first communist regime in Latin America. In the face of U.S. economic blockade and a “CIA-sponsored invasion attempt, the revolutionary government in Cuba proclaimed its Marxist-Leninist orientation and accepted the Soviet Union's political support, military protection, and economic backing”8. In the years following the revolution, the revolutionary Ernesto "Ché" Guevara designed a new model of revolution known as foquismo, in which the revolutionary foco (the central revolutionary) replaced the vanguard party. Ché's ideal of foquismo contained an implicit criticism to Latin American communist parties. All who ever aspired power from left wing parties, all caudillos, should start a violent revolution against right wing parties and governments thought Ché, and they would all be centralized and controlled by the Cuban foco. In Ché's view, the communist revolution was quite an enterprise, and all Latin American revolution was going to be a part of the foquismo. In his final years Ché did disagree with the Soviet Union and with Fidel Castro; foquista guerrillas in Latin America often clashed with communist parties. But Ché's insistence on the centralized revolutionary foco got Cuba a really important spot in history as the central of communism in Latin America. Guillén, a Spanish Civil War veteran, criticized strongly the Che’s “foquismo”; he strongly defended that “the movement would be led by urban proletariat rather than the rural peasantry”9.

http://science.jrank.org/pages/10094/Marxism-in-Latin-America-Foquismo.html last checked on August, Saturday 1 11:15hrs UTC/GMT -6.

Ibidem.

2010

RODRIGO ARÉVALO SOTO INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SESSION NUMBER 1009-004 NOVEMBER 2010

The Puppeteer

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA “The United States of America is declared as the biggest economy in the world, and it has been so for a long time”10. The U.S. success is mainly attributed to its “possession” of most Latin America; the political control has always been cautious and discreet. In Guatemala the over exposure to U.S. imperialism led to its control over Guatemalan economy with the “Revolución Liberal” (“Liberalist Revolution”) in 1870’s. The Revolution movement in Guatemala took a series of similar, if not identical, Republican policies, taking down Catholicism as official religion, the lead to the industrial development (in Guatemala’s situation, the agricultural development), and a series of improvements in the communication, such as roads and the railroad; however it finally ended with the beginning of oligarchy. "There is no doubt that the liberal regime brought a new rhythm to the country (Guatemala), which marked changes, but that progress had already begun before and its desire to increase it took its cost since it was done at the expense of rooting mono-cultivation (only coffee cultivation) and increase dependence of the country to foreign investors (Mainly United States), which rose to control key aspects of the economy…"11 U.S. gained entry in Guatemala. With the Liberal movement and Republican policies, Guatemala and United States established an intimate relationship. U.S. government did not miss the chance to propagate its ideal of hegemony, so they managed to negotiate with Guatemala asking for lands for cultivate in exchange of development rate acceleration. United Fruit Company, best known as UFCO, was founded by U.S. investors as a banana cultivating company, and grew to railroad and electric power owner, achieving to keep like that for a long time. “Under dictator Jorqe Ubico (1931-1944), American10

Interview with Luis Cobar, degree in history and education. July, Monday 26 2010 15:00hrs UTC/GMT -6.

“No hay duda que el régimen liberal trajo un Nuevo ritmo al país (Guatemala), que supuso cambios, pero ese avance ya se había iniciado antes y su afán de incrementarlo tuvo su precio, ya que se hizo a costa de arraigar el monocultivismo (only coffee cultivation) y de aumentar la dependencia del país a los inversionistas extranjeros (mainly United States), que pasaron a controlar aspectos claves de la economía (…)”. Lujan Muñoz, Jorge; Guatemala, Breve Historia Contemporánea; Fondo de Cultura Económica; third edition 2006; printed in Guatemala, Guatemala 2008; page 175.

RODRIGO ARÉVALO SOTO INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SESSION NUMBER 1009-004 NOVEMBER 2010 owned United Fruit Company (UFCO) gained control of forty-two percent of Guatemala's land, and was exempted from taxes and import duties. The three main enterprises in Guatemala -- United Fruit Company, International Railways of Central America, and Empresa Electrica -- were American-owned…”12. During the whole time, U.S. influence in Guatemala either was neglected by Guatemalans or it was simply unnoticed. However some worldwide struggles made U.S. presence really noticeable, for instance, since World War II was looked as a democracy fight, the overthrow of Úbico was necessary to maintain its position against autocratic and dictatorial governments. As well, during plain Cold War, since U.S. maintained its position to prevent the spread of communism in the world, they actively participated in Arbenz overthrow. These actions led to resentment that constantly grew until it exploded in 1962.

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/US_ThirdWorld/US_Guat.html last checked on August, Sunday 1 UTC/GMT -6.

2010 13:22hrs

RODRIGO ARÉVALO SOTO INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SESSION NUMBER 1009-004 NOVEMBER 2010

Guatemalan Context

ARBENZ OVERTHROW About a year before World War II ended, 1944, the dictator (Jorge Ubico) fell down. From that date on a new era started in Guatemala, an era called Political Spring. The spring was much more than just an expression: it really meant development in democratic processes. Arévalo was elected president; for the first time in decades, Guatemalan people had democratically chosen their governor. Arévalo proved to be a good president, with liberal ideology and social tendencies, improving services and education. His successor would be no one else but Jacobo Arbenz. He tried to be as good as his predecessor; however, his policy was focused on equal distribution of wealth, and was immediately labeled as communist. Arbenz was sympathizer with communists inside Guatemala and “permitted the communist Guatemalan Labor Party to gain legal status in 1952. By the mid-point of Arbenz’s term, communists controlled key peasant organizations, labor unions, and the governing political party, holding some key government positions”13. United States intervention in Guatemala began the same year when Anastasio Guzman Somoza solicited assistance to overthrow of Arbenz, and president Truman authorized and the support to anti-Arbenz groups14. «The CIA, on June 18, 1954, led the coup in Guatemala that overthrew the Communistdominated regime of President Jacobo Arbenz Guzman. Frank G. Wisner, CIA. Deputy Director for Plans, had the major responsibility for carrying out the operation. CIA agents trained and supported the forces of Colonel Carlos Castillo-Armas who assumed power after

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/guatemala.htm last checked on July, Tuesday 27 2010 1:00hrs UTC/GMT -6.

Aargument presented in the book: Luján Muñoz, Jorge; Guatemala, Breve Historia Contemporánea; Fondo de Cultura Eonómica de Guatemala; third edition 2006; printed in Guatemala, Guatemala 2008; La caída de Abenz, pages 280-286.

RODRIGO ARÉVALO SOTO INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SESSION NUMBER 1009-004 NOVEMBER 2010 the defeat of Arbenz. Agency support included the provision of CIA-piloted World War II fighter-bombers, as well as guns and ammunition.»

CASTILLO ARMAS PRESIDENCY After Arbenz overthrow, the “Ejército Liberacionista” (the Guatemalan military force working with the CIA overthrow plan) was submerged in power, power that days after was granted to Castillo Armas after Congress elections. From the beginning there were rough issues to deal with. Just few days upon taking possession, after a parade of the “Escuela Politécnica”

(“Polytechnic

School”)

the

seniors

decided

attack

the

“Ejército

Liberacionista” leaving bewilderment. "Castillo Armas doubted what to do and even thought of retiring to Zacapa (a region from eastern Guatemala) to join the forces that he had there. At that time acted as a mediator Archbishop Rossell Arellano, who managed to reach a ceasefire and the commitment being given by the government that liberationists (people from the "Ejército Liberacionista") would be incorporated into the army and that there would be no reprisals against the cadets.”16 After struggling severely Guatemala’s flows, the regime found strength. In fact the United States wanted Guatemala to become an example of how to achieve progress and social justice without "falling into the hands of communism”17. However, during his presidency, he was killed by a member of the Presidential Guard. “Castillo Armas was cut down before he succeeded in easing political restrictions, building up a strong successor and demonstrating the ultimate benefits of his economic alliance with the U.S”18.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/guatemala.htm last checked on July, Tuesday 27 2010 1:00hrs UTC/GMT -6.

“Castillo Armas dudaba qué hacer, y hasta pensó en retirarse a Zacapa (a eastern region from Guatemala) para unirse a las fuerzas que tenía allí. En ese momento intervino como mediador el arzobispo Rossell Arellano, quien logró que se llegara a un alto al fuego y que se diera el compromiso por parte del gobierno de que los liberacionistas (people from the “Ejercito Liberacionista”) no serían incorporados en el ejército y que no habría represalias contra los cadetes.” Lujan Muñoz, Jorge; Guatemala, Breve Historia Contemporánea; Fondo de Cultura Económica; third edition 2006; printed in Guatemala, Guatemala 2008; page 175.

17 18

Idem; page 299.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,865742,00.html last checked on July, Monday 12 UTC/GMT -6.

2010 16:32hrs

RODRIGO ARÉVALO SOTO INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SESSION NUMBER 1009-004 NOVEMBER 2010

The Broken Puppet

RUNNING FOR POWER After several years of persistent seeking for presidency, Ydígoras Fuentes got his opportunity. “The assassination of President Carlos Castillo Armas by a member of his personal guard in the Casa Crema on July 26, 1957 laid to rest whatever remained of the Gentlemen’s Agreement.” Paradoxically; however, it would give Miguel Ydígoras the chance to do at last what that agreement had originally called for—running for the presidency in an open election.”19. This gave him the chance that he had waited for so long, as some may consider. Since Ydígoras campaign, his ambition to stay in power as long as possible was certain. The greedy for power was a striking characteristic of the way he played, changing everything that could be manipulated to create a comfort zone for him to be perpetuated in the power. “To maintain the predominance of his party, the National Reconciliation Party (Redemption), Ydigoras sought after the support of unscrupulous politicians, the purchase of some "independent" deputy members or other parties and electoral fraud…”20 So this way he would not only get into power easily and without real obstacle at all, but he would also stay somehow in an arrangement that imply power.

EARLY STRUGGLES As usual, the main issue Ydigoras Fuentes had to struggle with was all the unfulfilled expectative

and

promises.

“President

Ydígoras

had

set

out

essentially

“developmentalist” agenda in his acceptance speech, namely, tax reform, the elaboration 19

Roland H. Ebel; Misunderstood Caudillo, Miguel Ydigoras Fuentes and the Failure of Democracy in Guatemala; University Press of America, Copyright© 1998; Chapter 2, Success At Last: The Election Campaigns of 1957 and 1958, page 57.

“Para mantener el predominio de su Partido de Reconciliación Nacional (Redención), Ydígoras buscó el apoyo de politicos poco escrupulosos, la compra de algunos diputados “independientes” o de otros partidos y fraudes electorales (…)” Jorge Luján Muñoz; Guatemala, Breve Historia Contemporánea; 1998 Fondo de Cultura Económica de Guatemala; Argrafic 2008; Gobierno de Ydígoras Fuentes, página 304.

RODRIGO ARÉVALO SOTO INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SESSION NUMBER 1009-004 NOVEMBER 2010 of an industrial development plan, the establishment of the Central American Common Market, simulation of public education, and the economic development of Petén. His social agenda included penal reform, the enactment of a more “effective” agrarian reform law, and the modification of the strict labor laws that had been put in place by Castillo Armas administration”21. However his actual agenda did not include any of those promises, instead his first concern was his supporters and the payback. Things got tough when coffee price went down internationally. Since Guatemala’s most important export since colonial times has always been the coffee, the whole economy suffered a push back. Economy was down in the ground; all the private sector depended of the coffee export to produce. Even though there was a rough economy to attend, Yidígoras’ first distress was the inability to pay the bureaucrats the favors they had done to get him into presidency. Ydígoras radicalism was big concern. There were several allegations against him he would not listen until several protest got him out of course. “In March 1959, in the middle of many protests(…), Ydígoras commanded Air Force units to attack a Mexican fishing vessels fishing in Guatemalan waters…”22 Even though discussions and protests ended, Mexico-Guatemala relationship got rough and was not cordial during the whole Ydígoras administration. Regardless of these wrong actions by Ydígoras, the U.S. maintained its assistance since they saw in him someone with backbone.

THE UPRISING Few years had passed from Ydígoras possession and everything seemed blurry, the ideal president everyone thought Ydígoras Fuentes would be was further than any other had been. Between a fight for interests involving military look for extreme capitalism and the overvalued idea of communism Ydígoras´ administration failed. “On November (13) 21

Roland H. Ebel; Misunderstood Caudillo, Miguel Ydigoras Fuentes and the Failure of Democracy in Guatemala; University Press of America, Copyright© 1998; Chapter 3, Getting Started: Launching The Ydígoras Administrarion, The Early Issues page 129.

“En marzo de 1959, en medio de diversas protestas(…), Ydígoras ordenó a unidades de la Fuerza Aérea que atacaran a unos barcos pesqueros mexicanos que faenaban en aguas territoriales guatemaltecas (…)”Luján Muñoz, Jorge; Guatemala, Breve Historia Contemporánea; Fondo de Cultura Eonómica de Guatemala; third edition 2006; printed in Guatemala, Guatemala 2008; page 305.

RODRIGO ARÉVALO SOTO INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SESSION NUMBER 1009-004 NOVEMBER 2010 1960 a rebellion broke out in Guatemala against President Ydigoras. Because of his assistance to the CIA to that point the agency secretly came to his aid, sending its 8-26 bombers against the rebels. The insurgency was crushed and Ydigoras kept in power”23. Ydígoras attempt to calm the situation between both communism and capitalism got him into trouble. Because of his close relationship with U.S. government he was identified as right wing; however, bureaucracy was related to capitalism, and Ydígoras populist ideal did not match with this “stereotype”. To maintain as inquisitive as possible he offered to welcome the exiles back, “those who had«stained Guatemalan soil with communism.»”24. Actually he proposed the only way Guatemala would show somehow an acceleration in development rate would be “sin comunistas ni anticomunistas”25 (“No communist nor anticommunist”). However during his presidency a group of anticommunist Cubans was training and preparing a revolution against Castro in Guatemalan territory. The operation was administrated by U.S. defense department, the plan was to enter Cuban territory with the group of Cubans to prepare a revolutionary mood to then go in with U.S. and Guatemalan military forces to overtake Cuba. The operation failed when United States called it of at last minute26. Repression then came all to Ydígoras administration, breaking political relationships with Cuba. The climax came in 1962, with the “Jornadas de Marzo y Abril”27. During these two months (March and April) violence and chaos ruled over Guatemala. The Asociación de Estudiantes Universitarios was against the opening of the new Congress, not because

http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/ops/guatemala.htm last checked on July, Wednesday 21 2010 17:10hrs UTC/GMT -6.

Ebel, Roland H.; Misunderstood Caudillo, Miguel Ydigoras Fuentes and the Failure of Democracy in Guatemala; University Press of America®; ANSI Z39.48–1984; Tulane Studies in Political Science, Copyright © 1998 University Press of America,® Inc.; Lanham, Maryland; Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data; page 131.

Guillén, José; Historia Análitica de Guatemala, del Popol Wuj al TLC; Alvagrafic 1994; Guatemala, Guatemala; page 334.

Interview with Luis Cobar, degree in history and education. July Monday 12 2010 15:00hrs UTC/GMT -6.

Luján Muñoz, Jorge; Guatemala, Breve Historia Contemporánea; Fondo de Cultura Eonómica de Guatemala; third edition 2006; printed in Guatemala, Guatemala 2008.

RODRIGO ARÉVALO SOTO INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SESSION NUMBER 1009-004 NOVEMBER 2010 they believed it was wrong to start over, but because of the “fraudulent elections”28 which gave the government an overwhelming majority. Students asked for the truth. Things in government were not as clear as Ydígoras administration claimed. The resentment grew; a bigger dislike for United States intervention and their “new way of imperialism” was constantly argued. The corruption during the presidency was also a bitterness factor. And on top of all, the lies; Guatemalan people were being deceived since the beginning, from the anticommunism, to the oligarchy.

THE OVERTHROW The truth is that resentment against imperialism grew during Ydígoras Fuentes Presidency. If well, resentment against United States stated in the Arbenz overthrow, it was not until Ydígoras administration when those actions proved to be wrong. While first impressions of Ydígoras were purely rightist, his populism attempt brought nothing but chaos. He was more concerned in having a nice image than by the efficiency of his administration. In consequence of the pathetic attempt of a “well-balanced government” between capitalism and communism, Ydígoras Fuentes was overthrown by the army. There was a series of allegations which responded to a list of four reasons to the overthrow: “first, the country was on the verge of internal conflict because of pro-communism subversion; second, the Ydígoras government had been complacent, even tolerant, in the face of the communist threat; third, democracy was being used by those who wished to overthrow the democratic system; fourth, the communist had infiltrated both the government and the political parties – so fragmenting the democratic parties that the leftists could very well have taken power legally”29.

RODRIGO ARÉVALO SOTO INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SESSION NUMBER 1009-004 NOVEMBER 2010

Guatemalan Civil War

In response to the striking failure of Ydígoras Fuentes administration, a group of junior military officers revolted in 1960. When they failed, several of them established close ties with Cuba. Even when Ydígoras administration had some open mind about communism, he was enemy from Cuba since the Cuban counter-revolutionary attempt in 1960. This group became the nucleus of the forces that were in armed insurrection against the government for the next 36 years30. “Between 1960 and 1996 military and paramilitary forces killed over 200,000 Guatemalans”31. Guatemala has not yet recovered from the violent actions that took place during those three decades. The war led a series of military actions government took against guerilla revolutionary movements that later became the URNG, “Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional de Guatemala”32. In 1996 a peace treaty was signed between the Guatemalan government and the URNG. Today the government, in compliance with the peace treaties, has de-militarized former conflict zones and introduced educational programs in public schools to preserve Mayan culture33.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2045.htm last checked on July, Thursday 15 2010 16:45hrs UTC/GMT -6.

http://www.suite101.com/content/history-of-the-guatemalan-war-a46747 last checked on August, Monday 2 18:23hrs UTC/GMT -6.

2010

Interview with Luis Cobar, degree in history and education. July, Monday 26 2010 15:00hrs UTC/GMT -6.

Luján Muñoz, Jorge; Guatemala, Breve Historia Contemporánea; Fondo de Cultura Eonómica de Guatemala; third edition 2006; printed in Guatemala, Guatemala 2008; El gobierno de Álvaro Arzú Irigoyen y la firma de la paz; pages 366-371

RODRIGO ARÉVALO SOTO INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SESSION NUMBER 1009-004 NOVEMBER 2010

Conclusion

Worldwide historical events have always had incidence in political situations of diverse countries; as proven with the work, the counter communism taken by the United States did have influence in Guatemalan policies. From the very beginning, during the ending of colonial times, U.S. proved to have a great influence over Latin America setting as an example its independence. From then to the present time, United States has always had a certain control in things such as policy and economy. However Latin American writers known as the 1898’ Generation and the 1920’ Generation realized that imperialism (how they named the U.S. “domination” over Latin America”34) was certainly stopping the proper development rate in the continent. However these arguments were not practiced in Guatemala until later. Imperialism was pretty common in Guatemala since 1871 “Liberalist Revolution”, where United States got the chance to be a really important part of the economic system, getting the control of the biggest banana export, the Empresa Electrica (electric power supplier) and the Central America Railroad. However the U.S. intromission was neglected; it permitted the increase of international investors oligarchy leading to progress stagnation. The incessant intervention from U.S. government was ignored by Guatemalan population for a long time. Nevertheless it was not until the intervention in Arbenz overthrow when U.S. actions were appealed. These actions took as payment the democracy Guatemalans worked hardly to get. Since world was submerged in the Cold War, United States actions against communism were extremist to the point of controlling all governments as possible to reduce chances of Marxism-Leninism spread. During Armas administration U.S. proved that underdeveloped countries could find a way to justice and progress without falling to communism. However, Armas was killed, and Ydígoras Fuentes took over the country management. 34

Oseguera de Chávez, Eva Lydia; Historia de la Literatura Latinoaméricana; Pearson Educación®; D.R. © 200 by Addison Wesley Longman de México S.A.; Cámara Nacional de la Industria Editorial Mexicana, Reg. Núm. 1031; Printed in Mexico 2000; page 261.

RODRIGO ARÉVALO SOTO INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SESSION NUMBER 1009-004 NOVEMBER 2010 Even when Ydígoras Fuentes started as a radical rightist, his overlook for populism led him to be complacent and tolerant with communism. His actions against Castro’s regime in Cuba were seen as a clear war against communism, and pleased United States interests. However, his constant desire of populism opened a way to communism. The corruption and a series of mistakes in his administration and conducted to a revolt that would finally led to the overthrow and the beginning of the internal conflict in Guatemala. However, to what extend did U.S. presence eventually lead to the early Guatemalan Civil War development? During the Cold War, the presence of United States in Guatemalan government was truly evident, and its influence over the policies was severe. The capitalism was supposed to be protected with body and soul, and the Ydígoras’ administration, in order to win populism, tried to be ambivalent between capitalism and communism. In the struggle to win political recognition, the administration fought against strict capitalism trying to not fall into communism. Ydígras’ views were finally seen as tolerant with communism and were not acceptable for United States. Even when U.S. did had influence in the initial fights and revolts that led to Guatemalan Civil War, its weight during those revolt was not crucial for the internal conflict initiation.

Word Count 3,918

RODRIGO ARÉVALO SOTO INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SESSION NUMBER 1009-004 NOVEMBER 2010

Bibliography

WRITTEN SOURCES Ebel, Roland H.; Misunderstood Caudillo, Miguel Ydigoras Fuentes and the Failure of Democracy in Guatemala; University Press of America®; ANSI Z39.48–1984; Tulane Studies in Political Science, Copyright © 1998 University Press of America, ® Inc.; Lanham, Maryland; Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data. Oseguera de Chávez, Eva Lydia; Historia de la Literatura Latinoaméricana; Pearson Educación®; D.R. © 200 by Addison Wesley Longman de México S.A.; Cámara Nacional de la Industria Editorial Mexicana, Reg. Núm. 1031; Printed in Mexico 2000. Guillén, José; Historia Análitica de Guatemala, del Popol Wuj al TLC; Alvagrafic 1994; Guatemala, Guatemala. Macías, Julio César; La Guerrila fue mi Camino; © 1997 Editorial Piedra Santa, S.A.; first edition 1997, printed in Guatemala, Guatemala. Luján Muñoz, Jorge; Guatemala, Breve Historia Contemporánea; Fondo de Cultura Eonómica de Guatemala; third edition 2006; printed in Guatemala, Guatemala 2008. Figueroa Ibarra, Carlos; Paz Tejada, Militar y Revolucionario; Instituto de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP); F&G Editores; second edition, 2004; printed in Guatemala. Gómez Navarro, José L.; Historia Universal; Pearson Educación, Prentice Hall; first edition 1998; Printed in Mexico, EDAMSA IMPRESIONES, S.A. Lowe, Norman; Mastering Modern World History; translation by María de los Ángeles Galindo: Guía Ilustrada de la Historia Moderna; Fondo de Cultura Económica; second edition 1993; eight reprint 2007, printed in Mexico.

RODRIGO ARÉVALO SOTO INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SESSION NUMBER 1009-004 NOVEMBER 2010 Rubel, David; Encyclopedia of the Presidents and their times; Scholastic Inc.; Coyright© 1994, updated 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009; first printing, January 2009; Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available.

MAGAZINE Magazine: Revista USAC, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala No. 1 – 1997; Marzo y Abril del ’62 Jornadas Populares; Ensayos / Testimonios / Fotografías; Publicación Trimestral Enero-Febrero-Marzo 1997; Essay from Manuel Colom Argueta: Guatemala: el significado de Las jornadas de marzo y abril.

ENCYCLOPEDIA SOURCES THE NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA; Volume 3; 15th Edition, 1995; Cold War. THE WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA; World Book; Volume 4, Ci-Cz; 1984; COMMUNISM; CAPITALISM.

INTERNET SOURCES http://ocw.nd.edu/physics/nuclear-warfare/lecture-8/skinless_view last checked on July, Monday 12th 2010 15:00hrs UTC/GMT -6. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,865742,00.html last checked on July, Monday 12th 2010 16:32hrs UTC/GMT -6. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2045.htm last checked on July, Thursday 15th 2010 16:45hrs UTC/GMT -6. http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/ops/guatemala.htm last checked on July, Wednesday 21st 2010 17:10hrs UTC/GMT -6.

RODRIGO ARĂ&#x2030;VALO SOTO INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SESSION NUMBER 1009-004 NOVEMBER 2010 http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/guatemala.htm

last

checked

July,

Tuesday 27 2010 1:00hrs UTC/GMT -6. http://science.jrank.org/pages/10094/Marxism-in-Latin-America-Foquismo.html

last

checked on August, Saturday 1st 2010 11:15hrs UTC/GMT -6. http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/US_ThirdWorld/US_Guat.html last checked on August, Sunday 1st 2010 13:22hrs UTC/GMT -6. http://www.suite101.com/content/history-of-the-guatemalan-war-a46747 last checked on August, Monday 2nd 2010 18:23hrs UTC/GMT -6.

INTERVIEW Interview with Luis Cobar, degree in history and education. July, Monday 26th 2010 15:00hrs UTC/GMT -6.

RODRIGO ARÉVALO SOTO INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SESSION NUMBER 1009-004 NOVEMBER 2010

Annexes

YDÍGORAS MIGUEL FUENTES SHORT BIOGRAPHY (ANNEX 1)

(Guatemala, 1895-1982) «Guatemalan

politician.

was

governor

the

department of San Marcos, director of roads during the presidency of the dictator Jorge Ubico, military attaché in Washington and Paris and ambassador to Colombia. In the 1950 election to the presidency he was beaten by Jacobo Arbenz, but in 1958, after founding the Redemption Party and have the support of right-wing sectors of the army, became president. During his government embezzled public lands for the United Fruit Co., broke relations with Cuba, facilitating training anti-Castro forces in Guatemala, and violently suppressed their opponents. In 1960 he managed to quell a military rebellion, but three years later his defense minister, E. Peralta Azurdia, overthrew him.»

Biography:

translation

from

biography

posted

http://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/y/ydigoras.htm

on last

the

link

checked

August Wednesday 25 2010 18:24hrs UTC/GMT -6. Picture from google images: Miguel Ydígoras Fuentes; found on the link http://www.aquiguatemala.net/presidentes/imagenes/miguel_y_fuentes.jpg last checked August Wednesday 25th 2010 18:27hrs UTC/GMT -6.