Manuel Colom Argueta
Encyclopedia
Manuel Colom Argueta was mayor
of Guatemala City
and an important progressive leader of the opposition in Guatemala
.
Born in Guatemala City, Colom studied at the El Rosario school, the Liceo Infantil and Escuela Nacional República de Costa Rica (1940–1946), completing his secondary schooling at the Instituto Nacional Central para Varones (INCV) where he became student association president. He graduated as one of the top students. He entered the Law Faculty at the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala
in 1950, again becoming a student leader there. He became involved in national campaigns for democracy and against the dictatorships during his studies and in 1955 was one of 33 citizens to publicly oppose the plebiscite aimed at confirming Carlos Castillo
in power. He was targeted in the armed break-up of a student protest on 25 June 1956 which left several students dead.
Colom graduated as a lawyer and notary in 1957. He was granted a scholarship to continue his studies in Florence
, Italy
, having helped to found the Partido Revolucionario (Revolutionary Party), later leaving the party claiming it had abandoned its democratic ideals. He returned from Italy in 1960.
Back in Guatemala, Colom became involved in the '13 de Noviembre' movement
backed by army officers against the government of Miguel Ydígoras
, soon leaving after differences over tactics. In 1961, he was one of the founders of the Unidad Revolucionaria Democrática (URD), which led opposition to Ydígoras and Enrique Peralta
. In March–April 1962, students and workers rose up against the government; student and political leaders were sought. In the same year, he married an Italian, Anna Borghini, in Florence. Then together, returned to live in Guatemala and they had three children (Lorena, Mónica and Rodolfo). On 25 January 1963, Colom and other leaders were detained, later forced into exile in El Salvador
, where he worked at the National University.
In 1964, Colom was named Secretary General of the URD. In 1970, the URD, as the 'Civic Committee' proposed him as candidate for Mayor of Guatemala City, and he won the election comfortably. The Presidency was won by General Carlos Arana with Dr. Adolfo Mijangos López elected deputy for the Central District. Colom rolled out a wide municipal programme and worked as President of ANAM, the national association of Guatemalan municipalities. In 1973 he fought to have FURD – the Frente Unido Revolucionario Democrático – approved by the electoral commission so that it could fight the 1974 general election
. The move was blocked by several delaying tactics, apparently as Colom would have had a good chance of winning the presidency. He was proposed as a candidate by members of other parties, but these moves were blocked by traditionalists. The opposition parties eventually backed Efraín Ríos Montt
as candidate and claim to have won the elections. However, Kjell Laugerud became President after alleged massive electoral fraud. In 1965, Colom returned to Florence on another scholarship where he studied urban planning.
In 1976, Colom returned and once again tried to form and register a political party – the Frente Unido de la Revolución (FUR). The same year there was an attempt on his life that left Colom injured and reliant on bodyguards after further attempts and threats. He continued his academic work at San Carlos University, combining this with politics.
On 15 March 1979, FUR was finally registered as a political party after several years. However, a week later on 22 March, Colom was assassinated, receiving 45 bullet wounds, having been the target of a carefully planned military operation led by Major General Cancinos, that included army helicopters and several military resources (Cancinos was assassinated 3 months later). This assassination, under the military-dominated and repressive regime of General Fernando Romeo Lucas
(President 1978-1982), was one of several, including Social Democrat Party founder Alberto Fuentes Mohr
.
On 22 March 2009 the Government of Guatemala granted to Manuel Colom Argueta, post mortem, the Order of the Quetzal in the grade of the Grand Cross, as part of the 30th anniversary of his murder. The Order of the Quetzal was delivered to Manuel Colom Argueta's children by president Alvaro Colom Caballeros.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Guatemala City
Guatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
and an important progressive leader of the opposition in Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
.
Born in Guatemala City, Colom studied at the El Rosario school, the Liceo Infantil and Escuela Nacional República de Costa Rica (1940–1946), completing his secondary schooling at the Instituto Nacional Central para Varones (INCV) where he became student association president. He graduated as one of the top students. He entered the Law Faculty at the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala
Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala
The Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala It is the biggest and oldest university of Guatemala, also it is the fourth founded in the Americas....
in 1950, again becoming a student leader there. He became involved in national campaigns for democracy and against the dictatorships during his studies and in 1955 was one of 33 citizens to publicly oppose the plebiscite aimed at confirming Carlos Castillo
Carlos Castillo Armas
Carlos Castillo Armas was a Guatemalan Colonel who came to power in a CIA-orchestrated coup in 1954. He held the title of President of Guatemala from July 8, 1954 until his assassination in 1957.-The coup:...
in power. He was targeted in the armed break-up of a student protest on 25 June 1956 which left several students dead.
Colom graduated as a lawyer and notary in 1957. He was granted a scholarship to continue his studies in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, having helped to found the Partido Revolucionario (Revolutionary Party), later leaving the party claiming it had abandoned its democratic ideals. He returned from Italy in 1960.
Back in Guatemala, Colom became involved in the '13 de Noviembre' movement
Revolutionary Movement 13th November
Revolutionary Movement 13th November was a leftist movement in Guatemala. MR-13 was founded in 1960 by a group of dissident officers. It was led by Luis Augusto Turcios Lima, Marco Antonio Yon Sosa and Luis Trejo Esquivel. Alejandro de León, co-founder of the group, was captured and shot by the...
backed by army officers against the government of Miguel Ydígoras
Miguel Ydígoras Fuentes
General José Miguel Ramón Ydígoras Fuentes was President of Guatemala from 2 March 1958 to 31 March 1963. He took power following the murder of Colonel Carlos Castillo Armas....
, soon leaving after differences over tactics. In 1961, he was one of the founders of the Unidad Revolucionaria Democrática (URD), which led opposition to Ydígoras and Enrique Peralta
Enrique Peralta Azurdia
Alfredo Enrique Peralta Azurdia was President of Guatemala from 31 March 1963 to 1 July 1966.Enrique Peralta was born on June 17, 1908 in Guatemala City. He took over the presidency after a coup against president Miguel Ydígoras Fuentes...
. In March–April 1962, students and workers rose up against the government; student and political leaders were sought. In the same year, he married an Italian, Anna Borghini, in Florence. Then together, returned to live in Guatemala and they had three children (Lorena, Mónica and Rodolfo). On 25 January 1963, Colom and other leaders were detained, later forced into exile in El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
, where he worked at the National University.
In 1964, Colom was named Secretary General of the URD. In 1970, the URD, as the 'Civic Committee' proposed him as candidate for Mayor of Guatemala City, and he won the election comfortably. The Presidency was won by General Carlos Arana with Dr. Adolfo Mijangos López elected deputy for the Central District. Colom rolled out a wide municipal programme and worked as President of ANAM, the national association of Guatemalan municipalities. In 1973 he fought to have FURD – the Frente Unido Revolucionario Democrático – approved by the electoral commission so that it could fight the 1974 general election
Guatemalan general election, 1974
General elections were held in Guatemala on 3 March 1974. No candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the presidential election, resulting in Kjell Eugenio Laugerud García being elected president by Congress on 12 March. The Congressional elections were won by an alliance of the...
. The move was blocked by several delaying tactics, apparently as Colom would have had a good chance of winning the presidency. He was proposed as a candidate by members of other parties, but these moves were blocked by traditionalists. The opposition parties eventually backed Efraín Ríos Montt
Efraín Ríos Montt
José Efraín Ríos Montt is a former de facto President of Guatemala, dictator, army general, and former president of Congress. In the 2003 presidential elections, he unsuccessfully ran as the candidate of the ruling Guatemalan Republican Front .Huehuetenango-born Ríos Montt remains one of the most...
as candidate and claim to have won the elections. However, Kjell Laugerud became President after alleged massive electoral fraud. In 1965, Colom returned to Florence on another scholarship where he studied urban planning.
In 1976, Colom returned and once again tried to form and register a political party – the Frente Unido de la Revolución (FUR). The same year there was an attempt on his life that left Colom injured and reliant on bodyguards after further attempts and threats. He continued his academic work at San Carlos University, combining this with politics.
On 15 March 1979, FUR was finally registered as a political party after several years. However, a week later on 22 March, Colom was assassinated, receiving 45 bullet wounds, having been the target of a carefully planned military operation led by Major General Cancinos, that included army helicopters and several military resources (Cancinos was assassinated 3 months later). This assassination, under the military-dominated and repressive regime of General Fernando Romeo Lucas
Fernando Romeo Lucas García
Fernando Romeo Lucas García was the 25th President of Guatemala from 1 July 1978 to 23 March 1982...
(President 1978-1982), was one of several, including Social Democrat Party founder Alberto Fuentes Mohr
Alberto Fuentes Mohr
Alberto Fuentes Mohr was a Guatemalan economist and politician, one of the founders of the Social Democratic Party. He also served as finance minister and foreign minister during the 1960s.-Biography:...
.
On 22 March 2009 the Government of Guatemala granted to Manuel Colom Argueta, post mortem, the Order of the Quetzal in the grade of the Grand Cross, as part of the 30th anniversary of his murder. The Order of the Quetzal was delivered to Manuel Colom Argueta's children by president Alvaro Colom Caballeros.
See also
- Álvaro ColomÁlvaro ColomÁlvaro Colom Caballeros is the President of Guatemala for the 2008–2012 term and leader of the social-democratic National Unity of Hope .-Early years:...
, nephew of Manuel Colom, placed second in the 2003 presidential election; in the next electionGuatemalan general election, 2007A general election was held in Guatemala in two rounds on 9 September and 4 November 2007. Voters went to the polls to elect a new President and Vice President of the Republic, 158 congressional deputies, and 332 mayors.-Results:...
, held on 4 November 2007, he was elected President of Guatemala, defeating former general Otto Pérez Molina by five percentage points.