Genaro Vázquez Rojas
Encyclopedia
Genaro Vázquez Rojas is a former school teacher, civic association
leader, militant
, and guerrilla fighter
.
(UNAM), however did not finish. At age 24 he co-founded the Guerreran Civic Community (CCG), while teaching at schools in the slums of the Federal District
. The following year in 1958 Vázquez Rojas participated in the Revolutionary Teacher's Movement (MRM) during the strike
and seizure of the Secretariat of Public Education. Vázquez Rojas would eventually be fired from his teachers position and go on to represent coffee, copra
, and palm workers before the Department of Agrarian Affairs and Colonization (DAAC).
and peasant workers. On May 13, 1960, Vázquez Rojas called his first neighborhood meeting in the San Francisco district of Chilpancingo, Guerrero, demanding an investigation of Raul Caballero Aburto, then Governor of Guerrero
. On October 30, 1960, the ACG led 5,000 people in protest in a civic stand-in, similar to that of a sit-in
, in support of recent demonstrations by students at the state university. Two years later, on December 31, 1962, 3,000 protesters assembled in Iguala
, police attacked the demonstrators, 28 people were killed, dozens wounded, and 156 were arrested. The ACG was outlawed following the protests and Vázquez Rojas was accused of killing an agent assigned to watch him. Vázquez Rojas fled to the north-east, where he laid in hiding for four years.
Genaro Vázquez Rojas was eventually captured at the offices of the National Liberation Movement (MLN) on November 9, 1966. On April 22, 1968, the ACG would attack the prison in Iguala and free its captured leader. Following the escape, Vázquez Rojas fled to the hills of the sierra, where he began working on the goals of the ACG on a national level. With the new outlook came a new name, the ACG was reformed into the Guerreran National Civic Association (GNCA).
's 1962 Declaration of Havana and the National Liberation Movement's (MLN) August 1961 program, was created to sustain a prolonged guerrilla struggle. The GNCA aimed to create links to other guerrilla organizations and coordinate revolution not just through Guerrero, but also throughout the country. In December of 1971, once the goals of the GNCA had been met, the organization was renamed to the Asociación Cívica Nacional Revolucionaria (ACNR). The ACNR continued to support the guerrilla groups and work toward uniting other radical groups.
concession, proprietor of "Yoli" soft drink factories, Chancellor of University of Huerrero, and ex-mayor of Taxco
. The ACNR demanded the release of nine political prisoner
s, two and a half million pesos, and formal trials of all peasants held in military barracks. The ACNR received a ransom of 500,000 pesos, and the release of the nine political prisoners to Cuba. Diez was released on December 1, 1971.
The ACNR, operating along the Costa Grande
between Acapulco
and the Balsas River
, drew the ire of the federal government for their actions. In response, they were pursued by army battalions
, helicopters, paratroopers, and counter-insurgency
technology developed by the United States
in Vietnam
. On February 2, 1972, Vázquez Rojas was captured by the army after fleeing a car wreck, it is believed he died from his wounds.
Civic Association
The Hong Kong Civic Association is a political group founded in 1954 in Hong Kong by Dr. Hilton Cheong-Leen. In 1975 it claimed a membership of 10,000....
leader, militant
Militant
The word militant, which is both an adjective and a noun, usually is used to mean vigorously active, combative and aggressive, especially in support of a cause, as in 'militant reformers'. It comes from the 15th century Latin "militare" meaning "to serve as a soldier"...
, and guerrilla fighter
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
.
Guerreran Civic Community
Genaro Vázquez Rojas studied law at the National Autonomous University of MexicoNational Autonomous University of Mexico
The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México is a university in Mexico. UNAM was founded on 22 September 1910 by Justo Sierra as a liberal alternative to the Roman Catholic-sponsored Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (National Autonomous...
(UNAM), however did not finish. At age 24 he co-founded the Guerreran Civic Community (CCG), while teaching at schools in the slums of the Federal District
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. The following year in 1958 Vázquez Rojas participated in the Revolutionary Teacher's Movement (MRM) during the strike
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
and seizure of the Secretariat of Public Education. Vázquez Rojas would eventually be fired from his teachers position and go on to represent coffee, copra
Copra
Copra is the dried meat, or kernel, of the coconut. Coconut oil extracted from it has made copra an important agricultural commodity for many coconut-producing countries. It also yields coconut cake which is mainly used as feed for livestock.-Production:...
, and palm workers before the Department of Agrarian Affairs and Colonization (DAAC).
Guerrero Civic Association
Between 1958 and 1960, the CCG would transform into the Guerrero Civic Association (ACG) with the stated goals of fighting for land reformLand reform
[Image:Jakarta farmers protest23.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Farmers protesting for Land Reform in Indonesia]Land reform involves the changing of laws, regulations or customs regarding land ownership. Land reform may consist of a government-initiated or government-backed property redistribution,...
and peasant workers. On May 13, 1960, Vázquez Rojas called his first neighborhood meeting in the San Francisco district of Chilpancingo, Guerrero, demanding an investigation of Raul Caballero Aburto, then Governor of Guerrero
Governor of Guerrero
List of governors of Guerrero since it became a state of Mexico in 1917.-See also:* List of Mexican state governors...
. On October 30, 1960, the ACG led 5,000 people in protest in a civic stand-in, similar to that of a sit-in
Sit-in
A sit-in or sit-down is a form of protest that involves occupying seats or sitting down on the floor of an establishment.-Process:In a sit-in, protesters remain until they are evicted, usually by force, or arrested, or until their requests have been met...
, in support of recent demonstrations by students at the state university. Two years later, on December 31, 1962, 3,000 protesters assembled in Iguala
Iguala
The historic city of Iguala de la Independencia is located from state capital Chilpancingo in the Mexican state of Guerrero. It stands on Federal Highway 95. Iguala is the municipal seat of the municipality of the same name, located in the north-central part of the state. The city had a 2005...
, police attacked the demonstrators, 28 people were killed, dozens wounded, and 156 were arrested. The ACG was outlawed following the protests and Vázquez Rojas was accused of killing an agent assigned to watch him. Vázquez Rojas fled to the north-east, where he laid in hiding for four years.
Genaro Vázquez Rojas was eventually captured at the offices of the National Liberation Movement (MLN) on November 9, 1966. On April 22, 1968, the ACG would attack the prison in Iguala and free its captured leader. Following the escape, Vázquez Rojas fled to the hills of the sierra, where he began working on the goals of the ACG on a national level. With the new outlook came a new name, the ACG was reformed into the Guerreran National Civic Association (GNCA).
Guerreran National Civic Association
The GNCA, inspired by Fidel CastroFidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
's 1962 Declaration of Havana and the National Liberation Movement's (MLN) August 1961 program, was created to sustain a prolonged guerrilla struggle. The GNCA aimed to create links to other guerrilla organizations and coordinate revolution not just through Guerrero, but also throughout the country. In December of 1971, once the goals of the GNCA had been met, the organization was renamed to the Asociación Cívica Nacional Revolucionaria (ACNR). The ACNR continued to support the guerrilla groups and work toward uniting other radical groups.
Asociación Cívica Nacional Revolucionaria
The ACNR conducted three guerrilla operations, all taking place between the years of 1969 and 1971. On April 19, 1969 the ACNR organized an assault on the Mexican Commercial Bank, the attack was deemed a failure as the police were able to recover three million stolen pesos and detain the guerrillas who conducted the raid. Due to a mechanical problem with the getaway vehicle, a taxi, the guerrillas were quickly captured and brought to justice. On January 5, 1971, Conaciano Luna Radilla, manager of Commercial Bank of the South, was kidnapped on the highway. A ransom of half a million pesos was requested and received and Conaciano was freed. The final act was taken on November 19, 1971, with the kidnapping of Jaime Castrejón Diez. Diez was the owner of a Coca-ColaCoca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
concession, proprietor of "Yoli" soft drink factories, Chancellor of University of Huerrero, and ex-mayor of Taxco
Taxco
Taxco de Alarcón is a small city and municipality located in the Mexican state of Guerrero. The name Taxco is most likely derived from the Nahuatl word tlacheco, which means “place of the ballgame.” However, one interpretation has the name coming from the word tatzco which means “where the father...
. The ACNR demanded the release of nine political prisoner
Political prisoner
According to the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, a political prisoner is ‘someone who is in prison because they have opposed or criticized the government of their own country’....
s, two and a half million pesos, and formal trials of all peasants held in military barracks. The ACNR received a ransom of 500,000 pesos, and the release of the nine political prisoners to Cuba. Diez was released on December 1, 1971.
The ACNR, operating along the Costa Grande
Costa Grande of Guerrero
Costa Grande of Guerrero is a sociopolitical region located in the Mexican state of Guerrero, along the Pacific Coast. It makes up of Guerrero’s approximately coastline, extending from the Michoacán border to the Acapulco area, wedged between the Sierra Madre del Sur and the Pacific Ocean...
between Acapulco
Acapulco
Acapulco is a city, municipality and major sea port in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, southwest from Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semi-circular bay and has been a port since the early colonial period of Mexico’s history...
and the Balsas River
Balsas River
The Balsas River is a major river of south-central Mexico. The basin flows through the states of Puebla, Morelos, Guerrero, and Mexico. The river empties into the Pacific Ocean at Mangrove Point, adjacent to the city of Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán...
, drew the ire of the federal government for their actions. In response, they were pursued by army battalions
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
, helicopters, paratroopers, and counter-insurgency
Counter-insurgency
A counter-insurgency or counterinsurgency involves actions taken by the recognized government of a nation to contain or quell an insurgency taken up against it...
technology developed by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. On February 2, 1972, Vázquez Rojas was captured by the army after fleeing a car wreck, it is believed he died from his wounds.