Guatemala City in Guatemala Department, — Central America
Assassination of Manuel Colom Argueta
Aqui cayo asesinado quien fuera
esperanza del guatemalteco
que su ejemplo sirva de cimiento para
formar hombres justos y libres
Frente Unido de la Revolucion
Guatemala 22/3/81
Here was assassinated he who was the hope of Guatemala, that his example serve as a base for the formation of a just and free people.
Frente Unido de la Revolucion (United Revolutionary Front)
Guatemala, March 22, 1981
Erected 1981 by Frente Unido de la Revolución (FUR).
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Patriots & Patriotism • Wars, Non-US. A significant historical date for this entry is March 22, 1981.
Location. 14° 36.633′ N, 90° 31.332′ W. Marker is in Guatemala City, Guatemala (Guatemala Department). Marker is at the intersection of 5a Calle and 3a Avenida, in the median on 5a Calle. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Guatemala City, Guatemala 01009, Guatemala. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Ramiro Samayoa Martínez (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); The Tower of the Reformer (approx. 0.7 kilometers away); Israel and Guatemala Monument (approx. 0.8 kilometers away); La Reforma Avenue (approx. 0.8 kilometers away); Fire at the Spanish Embassy in Guatemala (approx. 0.8 kilometers away); José María Reina Barrios (approx. 0.8 kilometers away); Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (approx. 0.8 kilometers away); Memorial to United States Officials in Guatemala (approx. 0.9 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Guatemala City.
Regarding Assassination of Manuel Colom Argueta.
Manuel Colom Argueta (8 April 1932 – 22 March 1979) was mayor of Guatemala City and an important progressive leader of the opposition in Guatemala. After being exiled from the country for his political work at the University of San Carlos in Guatemala, he fled to El Salvador. In 1976, Colom returned and once again tried to form and register a political party – the Frente Unido de la Revolución (FUR) (The United Revolutionary Front). 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 the University of San Carlos, combining this with political work.
On 15 March 1979, FUR was finally registered as a political party after several years. However, a week later on March 22, 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 other military resources (Cancinos was assassinated three months later). His bodyguards, Héctor Barillas Zelada and Hilario Hernández Quiñónez were killed in the same attack. This assassination, under the military-dominated regime of General Fernando Romeo Lucas (President 1978-1982), was one of several, including the Social Democratic Party founder Alberto Fuentes Mohr.
On March 22, 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, his nephew.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 19, 2018. It was originally submitted on March 19, 2018, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 481 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 19, 2018, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. 3. submitted on April 13, 2018, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. 4. submitted on April 19, 2018, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.