Zona 9 in Ciudad de Guatemala in Guatemala Department, — Central America

Assassination of Manuel Colom Argueta

March 18, 2018

1. Assassination of Manuel Colom Argueta Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

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

English translation:
Manuel Colom Argueta
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 Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala (Guatemala Department). It is in Zona 9. It 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: Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala 01009, Guatemala. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in North America,

specifically in Central America,

in Mesoamerica,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

and in the Western Hemisphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also a Spanish colony.

Other nearby markers.

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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 Ciudad de Guatemala.

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,

March 18, 2018

2. Assassination of Manuel Colom Argueta Marker

The marker is near the location where Manuel Colom Argueta was killed by members of the Guatemalan Presidential Security forces (Estado Mayor Presidencial) on March 22, 1979. The marker was placed on the second anniversary of his murder. Sadly, it faces the wrong way on a one-way street, mostly forgotten.

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.

Location of Manuel Colom Argueta's office image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, March 20, 2018

3. Location of Manuel Colom Argueta's office

This property at 6a Calle 7-55, Zona 9 of Guatemala City was the location of Colom Argueta's office from which he left on the day of his assassination. It is currently a parking lot for the Bing Bing Restaurant next door.

A 2010 dedication marker for the Manuel Colom Argueta Overpass image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, March 20, 2018

4. A 2010 dedication marker for the Manuel Colom Argueta Overpass

This marker is in Zone 6 of Guatemala City at the intersection of Calle Martí (5a Calle) and 14 Avenida. It commemorates the 2010 dedication of this overpass. It reads:
Paso a Desnivel
“Manuel Colom Argueta”
Escudos de Guatemala y la Municipalidad de Guatemala
Guatemala, 2010

Credits. This page was last revised on April 19, 2018. It was originally submitted on March 19, 2018, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 1,007 times since then and 80 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 19, 2018, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on April 13, 2018, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. 4. submitted on April 19, 2018, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia.