Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08GUATEMALA1315
2008-10-22 22:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Guatemala
Cable title:
GOG CELEBRATES 1944 REVOLUTION, LEFTISTS VANDALIZE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHGT #1315 2962231 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 222231Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6300 INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 4976 RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L GUATEMALA 001315
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2018
TAGS: PGOV ASEC PREL GT
SUBJECT: GOG CELEBRATES 1944 REVOLUTION, LEFTISTS VANDALIZE
CHANCERY
Classified By: Pol/Econ Couns Drew Blakeney for reasons 1.4 (b&d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L GUATEMALA 001315
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2018
TAGS: PGOV ASEC PREL GT
SUBJECT: GOG CELEBRATES 1944 REVOLUTION, LEFTISTS VANDALIZE
CHANCERY
Classified By: Pol/Econ Couns Drew Blakeney for reasons 1.4 (b&d).
1. (U) The Colom Government sponsored a major, public
celebration of this year's anniversary of the October 20,
1944 revolution that ousted strongman Jorge Ubico and
instituted a reformist, democratic government. Thousands
attended. In the past, leftist groups, rather than the GOG,
had commemorated the event. The GOG took out full-page
newspaper advertisements to announce the official celebration
at the National Palace on Guatemala City's central square,
aired an official television documentary, and draped huge
depictions of revolutionary heroes over the palace's front
facade. The GOG's images were in red and black, recalling
the colors of revolutionaries in neighboring El Salvador and
Nicaragua. The artwork depicted heroic proletarians in a
style reminiscent of official Cuban and Soviet art.
Argentine, Venezuelan, and Guatemalan revolutionary bands
warmed up the crowd with protest music.
2. (U) During the official ceremony in the plaza, the
President, Vice President, cabinet, and diplomatic corps,
including the Ambassador, were on a small stage with
insubstantial barriers and no police to keep away the crowds.
A hostile tone was set immediately by labor union protesters
shouting insults at the government over megaphones during the
national anthem. As President Colom presented the "Order of
the Quetzal" to 17 participants in the 1944 revolution, the
ceremony was interrupted by chants from members of HIJOS, a
radical organization of war orphans. The HIJOS members
protested Colom's alleged usurpation of Guatemala's
revolutionary tradition (among other complaints). President
Colom and the party on the dais were forced to move inside to
finish the event. Once inside, Colom asserted to the
audience that he did not intend for his to be a revolutionary
government, but that he would continue to make changes to do
away with the prevailing "system of hunger." Even inside,
the ceremony was further disrupted by fireworks and shots
fired outside.
3. (SBU) Earlier in the day, leftist groups consisting of
unionists, university students, and others paused during
their march to the square at the Embassy to spray-paint
anti-USG graffiti on the chancery's outer wall and lob bags
of red and black paint over the fence. An augmented
Guatemalan police force looked on but took no effective
action. (Embassy immediately painted over the graffiti
following the protest.) The Ambassador protested to the
Foreign Minister and Minister of Government that the GOG had
failed to fulfill its obligations under the Vienna Convention
to protect diplomatic property. They apologized, as did
President Colom and Vice President Espada when they
encountered the Ambassador in the course of the celebration
at the National Palace.
4. (C) Comment: Government security forces performed poorly
in protecting both the dignitaries on stage at the National
Palace and the chancery. We will continue to insist that the
GOG has an obligation to protect diplomatic property.
5. (C) The unprecedented celebration of the 1944 revolution
is characteristic of Colom's habit of cloaking himself in the
mantles of Arevalo and Arbenz. At the same time, Colom made
no references to the USG-supported coup that overthrew
Arbenz. It was also an attempt to demonstrate continuity
with the political legacy of Colom's uncle, Manuel Colom
Argueta, a popular leftist former Mayor of Guatemala City who
was murdered by suspected right-wing death squads in 1979.
As external economic factors batter the Guatemalan economy
and with violent crime on the rise, Colom's first year in the
presidency is short on achievements. Colom may have been
seeking some popular support in the symbolism of a popular
revolution, but the radical left made it clear that they do
not view his government as the successor of Arevalo and
Arbenz.
McFarland
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2018
TAGS: PGOV ASEC PREL GT
SUBJECT: GOG CELEBRATES 1944 REVOLUTION, LEFTISTS VANDALIZE
CHANCERY
Classified By: Pol/Econ Couns Drew Blakeney for reasons 1.4 (b&d).
1. (U) The Colom Government sponsored a major, public
celebration of this year's anniversary of the October 20,
1944 revolution that ousted strongman Jorge Ubico and
instituted a reformist, democratic government. Thousands
attended. In the past, leftist groups, rather than the GOG,
had commemorated the event. The GOG took out full-page
newspaper advertisements to announce the official celebration
at the National Palace on Guatemala City's central square,
aired an official television documentary, and draped huge
depictions of revolutionary heroes over the palace's front
facade. The GOG's images were in red and black, recalling
the colors of revolutionaries in neighboring El Salvador and
Nicaragua. The artwork depicted heroic proletarians in a
style reminiscent of official Cuban and Soviet art.
Argentine, Venezuelan, and Guatemalan revolutionary bands
warmed up the crowd with protest music.
2. (U) During the official ceremony in the plaza, the
President, Vice President, cabinet, and diplomatic corps,
including the Ambassador, were on a small stage with
insubstantial barriers and no police to keep away the crowds.
A hostile tone was set immediately by labor union protesters
shouting insults at the government over megaphones during the
national anthem. As President Colom presented the "Order of
the Quetzal" to 17 participants in the 1944 revolution, the
ceremony was interrupted by chants from members of HIJOS, a
radical organization of war orphans. The HIJOS members
protested Colom's alleged usurpation of Guatemala's
revolutionary tradition (among other complaints). President
Colom and the party on the dais were forced to move inside to
finish the event. Once inside, Colom asserted to the
audience that he did not intend for his to be a revolutionary
government, but that he would continue to make changes to do
away with the prevailing "system of hunger." Even inside,
the ceremony was further disrupted by fireworks and shots
fired outside.
3. (SBU) Earlier in the day, leftist groups consisting of
unionists, university students, and others paused during
their march to the square at the Embassy to spray-paint
anti-USG graffiti on the chancery's outer wall and lob bags
of red and black paint over the fence. An augmented
Guatemalan police force looked on but took no effective
action. (Embassy immediately painted over the graffiti
following the protest.) The Ambassador protested to the
Foreign Minister and Minister of Government that the GOG had
failed to fulfill its obligations under the Vienna Convention
to protect diplomatic property. They apologized, as did
President Colom and Vice President Espada when they
encountered the Ambassador in the course of the celebration
at the National Palace.
4. (C) Comment: Government security forces performed poorly
in protecting both the dignitaries on stage at the National
Palace and the chancery. We will continue to insist that the
GOG has an obligation to protect diplomatic property.
5. (C) The unprecedented celebration of the 1944 revolution
is characteristic of Colom's habit of cloaking himself in the
mantles of Arevalo and Arbenz. At the same time, Colom made
no references to the USG-supported coup that overthrew
Arbenz. It was also an attempt to demonstrate continuity
with the political legacy of Colom's uncle, Manuel Colom
Argueta, a popular leftist former Mayor of Guatemala City who
was murdered by suspected right-wing death squads in 1979.
As external economic factors batter the Guatemalan economy
and with violent crime on the rise, Colom's first year in the
presidency is short on achievements. Colom may have been
seeking some popular support in the symbolism of a popular
revolution, but the radical left made it clear that they do
not view his government as the successor of Arevalo and
Arbenz.
McFarland