Dictators of Latin Dictators of Latin AmericaAmerica

By, By, Sarah DailySarah Daily

&&Sarah ComptonSarah Compton

What is a Dictator?What is a Dictator?

• Refers to an Refers to an absolutist or absolutist or autocratic ruler who autocratic ruler who governs outside the governs outside the normal normal constitutional rule of constitutional rule of law through a law through a continuous state of continuous state of exception. exception.

• CharismaticCharismatic• AuthoritarianAuthoritarian

How does one assume How does one assume power?power?

• MilitaryMilitary–   coupscoups– economic criseseconomic crises

• ElectionsElections– FreeFree– ForcedForced

In Latin AmericaIn Latin America

• Internal ForcesInternal Forces– RevolutionRevolution

• CastroCastro– Economic crisisEconomic crisis– MilitaryMilitary

• Influences of outside forcesInfluences of outside forces– GovernmentsGovernments

• The US has supported many “friendly dictators”The US has supported many “friendly dictators”– CorporationsCorporations

• Oil and other foreign investment firms want to look out for Oil and other foreign investment firms want to look out for their profitstheir profits

– NGOs NGOs • IMF, World Bank, etc. IMF, World Bank, etc.

Friendly DictatorsFriendly DictatorsMaximiliano Hernandez Maximiliano Hernandez MartinezMartinez

El El SalvadoSalvador r

(1935-44) Gained power in a coup; suppressed (1935-44) Gained power in a coup; suppressed opposition; oversaw massacre of between ten opposition; oversaw massacre of between ten and forty thousand suspected opponents and forty thousand suspected opponents

Efrain Rios MonttEfrain Rios Montt GuatemGuatemalaala

Ruled for 14 months (1982-3); 70,000 civilians Ruled for 14 months (1982-3); 70,000 civilians killed or disappeared, mostly Mayan. killed or disappeared, mostly Mayan.

General Augusto General Augusto PinochetPinochet

ChileChile (1974-1990) Tens of thousands of Chileans (1974-1990) Tens of thousands of Chileans were tortured, killed, and exiled under his were tortured, killed, and exiled under his rule.rule.

General Jorge Rafael General Jorge Rafael VidelaVidela

ArgentiArgentinana

(1976-81) Gained power in a coup; never (1976-81) Gained power in a coup; never elected; between ten and thirty thousand elected; between ten and thirty thousand opponents killed. opponents killed.

Hugo BanzerHugo Banzer BoliviaBolivia Gained power in a coup; suppressed Gained power in a coup; suppressed opposition; closed universities; 3,000 opposition; closed universities; 3,000 opponents arrested, 200 killed. opponents arrested, 200 killed.

General Manuel NoriegaGeneral Manuel Noriega PanamaPanama Commander of the National Guard and Commander of the National Guard and de de factofacto military leader. military leader.

Supported and aided by US and/or CIA. And the list goes on…

Efraín Ríos Montt - Efraín Ríos Montt - GuatemalaGuatemala

Some background on Some background on GuatemalaGuatemala

• 1954, Operation PBSUCCESS:1954, Operation PBSUCCESS: A CIA A CIA organized overthrow of President Jacobo organized overthrow of President Jacobo Arbenz Guzman due to pressure from the Arbenz Guzman due to pressure from the United Fruit Co., which Guzman planed to United Fruit Co., which Guzman planed to nationalize. Col. Castillo Armas was installednationalize. Col. Castillo Armas was installed

• In 1962 guerilla groups emerged and major In 1962 guerilla groups emerged and major armed conflict began. In 1966 army death armed conflict began. In 1966 army death squads started to emerge to suppress the squads started to emerge to suppress the guerilla groups guerilla groups

• Between 1966 and 1970 over 10,000 people Between 1966 and 1970 over 10,000 people were killed, many of whom were Mayanwere killed, many of whom were Mayan

• This finally ended after 36 years in 1996 when This finally ended after 36 years in 1996 when the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URNG) signed a peace treaty. (URNG) signed a peace treaty.

Efraín Ríos Montt - Efraín Ríos Montt - GuatemalaGuatemala

• He trained at the School for the Americas He trained at the School for the Americas • He ran for president in 1974, lost by 70,000 He ran for president in 1974, lost by 70,000

voted, and claimed massive electoral fraud by voted, and claimed massive electoral fraud by Catholic priests who questioned treatment of Catholic priests who questioned treatment of MayansMayans

• Converted to Christianity and became a Converted to Christianity and became a protestant priest in California in 1978protestant priest in California in 1978

• Came to power in 1982 by a military coup as Came to power in 1982 by a military coup as part of 3-member “junta” just after President part of 3-member “junta” just after President Guevera was elected. He promised to "end Guevera was elected. He promised to "end corruption, guarantee respect for human corruption, guarantee respect for human rights and revitalize our institutions" rights and revitalize our institutions"

• Guerrillas denounced Montt’s leadershipGuerrillas denounced Montt’s leadership

Efraín Ríos Montt - Efraín Ríos Montt - GuatemalaGuatemala

• Launched campaign Launched campaign frijoles y fusilesfrijoles y fusiles (beans and guns) against the guerrillas(beans and guns) against the guerrillas– April: the “scorched earth” campaign that April: the “scorched earth” campaign that

devastated over 600 Mayan villagesdevastated over 600 Mayan villages• In June dissolved “junta” and assumed In June dissolved “junta” and assumed

complete control as dictatorcomplete control as dictator• On August 8On August 8thth, Montt was ousted from the , Montt was ousted from the

presidency by another military couppresidency by another military coup• Is still involved in politics through the Is still involved in politics through the

Frente Republicano Guatemalteco Frente Republicano Guatemalteco (Guatemalan Republican Front) and ran (Guatemalan Republican Front) and ran (and lost) for president in 2003(and lost) for president in 2003

GenocideGenocide

• A 1982 Amnesty A 1982 Amnesty International report International report estimated that over estimated that over 10,000 indigenous 10,000 indigenous (mostly Mayan) (mostly Mayan) Guatemalans and Guatemalans and peasant farmers peasant farmers were killed during were killed during the March to July the March to July period, and that period, and that 100,000 were made 100,000 were made homelesshomeless

General Augusto General Augusto PinochetPinochet

Chile, 1973Chile, 1973• Pinochet was the Army Pinochet was the Army

Commander in Chief of Commander in Chief of the Chilean Armythe Chilean Army

• Stormed the Stormed the presidential palace, presidential palace, then president, then president, Salvador Allende- a Salvador Allende- a Marxist and first Marxist and first socialist president in socialist president in Chilean history- kills Chilean history- kills himself with a machine himself with a machine gun from Fidel Castrogun from Fidel Castro

• The US supported the The US supported the removal of Allende removal of Allende because of his “red” because of his “red” policiespolicies

• September 11, 1973 September 11, 1973 coup d'état ousts coup d'état ousts Allende Allende

• A A juntajunta is established is established with four military with four military branches involvedbranches involved

• Sept. 13, the Sept. 13, the junta junta dissolves congressdissolves congress

• Pinochet declares Pinochet declares himself presidenthimself president

• Shortly thereafter, Shortly thereafter, Pinochet begins Pinochet begins implementing neo-implementing neo-liberal strategies liberal strategies recommended by the US recommended by the US

Chile under PinochetChile under Pinochetgood things?good things?

• Abolished the minimum Abolished the minimum wage wage

• Rescinded trade union rightsRescinded trade union rights• Privatized the pension Privatized the pension

system, state industries and system, state industries and banks, and lowered taxes on banks, and lowered taxes on high incomes and profits.high incomes and profits.

• Instituted curfew Instituted curfew • Between 1960 and 1980 Between 1960 and 1980

there was a 35% increase in there was a 35% increase in GDP GDP

• Because of these policies, Because of these policies, supporters have dubbed supporters have dubbed them “The Miracle of Chile” them “The Miracle of Chile”

Oppression under Oppression under PinochetPinochet

• As a military general, As a military general, Pinochet wanted to Pinochet wanted to destroy the oppositiondestroy the opposition

• He banned any He banned any opposing parties- opposing parties- especially leftist onesespecially leftist ones

• The Caravan of Death The Caravan of Death was an Army squad was an Army squad that roamed Chile in that roamed Chile in October, 1973, October, 1973, murdering the regime's murdering the regime's opponents. Members of opponents. Members of the socialist party were the socialist party were targeted At least 70 targeted At least 70 people were killed. people were killed.

• The Rettig Report The Rettig Report estimates 3,000 were estimates 3,000 were killed or disappeared killed or disappeared during the during the dictatorship dictatorship

• 35,000 people have 35,000 people have claimed to have been claimed to have been abused or tortured by abused or tortured by the regime the regime

Pinochet after 1990Pinochet after 1990

• The country resumed a somewhat functional The country resumed a somewhat functional democracydemocracy

• He remained as Commander-in-Chief of the He remained as Commander-in-Chief of the Army, until March 1998, After which he became Army, until March 1998, After which he became a senator-for-life a senator-for-life

• Pinochet was arrested in London on a warrant Pinochet was arrested in London on a warrant issued by Spainissued by Spain– 94 counts of torture on Spanish citizens94 counts of torture on Spanish citizens

• Difficulties being triedDifficulties being tried– Parliamentary immunity in EnglandParliamentary immunity in England– Ill health led to one acquittalIll health led to one acquittal– Indicted on charged of crimes against human rightsIndicted on charged of crimes against human rights

LegacyLegacy• ““The fact that The fact that

Augusto Pinochet Augusto Pinochet was arrested while was arrested while traveling abroad has traveling abroad has sent a powerful sent a powerful message: no one is message: no one is above international above international law, even when law, even when national laws protect national laws protect you from you from prosecution” prosecution” – Amnesty InternationalAmnesty International

Trujillo – Dominican Trujillo – Dominican RepublicRepublic

1930-19611930-1961

Trujillo – Dominican Trujillo – Dominican RepublicRepublic

• Trujillo joined the National Guard during the Trujillo joined the National Guard during the US occupation (1916-1924)US occupation (1916-1924)

• He rose in rank very quickly and overthrew He rose in rank very quickly and overthrew president Horacio Vasquez in 1930president Horacio Vasquez in 1930

• He pursued He pursued blanquismoblanquismo (racial whitening) (racial whitening) and welcomed European immigrants, while and welcomed European immigrants, while ordering a masacre of 20,000 Haitian ordering a masacre of 20,000 Haitian sugarcane workers in 1937 (though he was sugarcane workers in 1937 (though he was not of “pure blood” himself).not of “pure blood” himself).

• Under his rule the DR had a larger middle Under his rule the DR had a larger middle class and developed healthcare and a school class and developed healthcare and a school systemsystem

Trujillo – Dominican Trujillo – Dominican RepublicRepublic

• Trujillo was known as “El Jefe” and Trujillo was known as “El Jefe” and named the capital city, Santo Domingo, named the capital city, Santo Domingo, Ciudad TrujilloCiudad Trujillo

• Houses were required to have pictures Houses were required to have pictures or plaques pledging allegiance to their or plaques pledging allegiance to their leader and his partyleader and his party

• He instituted a curfewHe instituted a curfew• He used secret police to capture and He used secret police to capture and

torture those opposed to himtorture those opposed to him

Las MariposasLas Mariposas

• Perhaps most Perhaps most famous of all in famous of all in 1960, he ordered 1960, he ordered the murder of the the murder of the Mirabal sisters, Mirabal sisters, Las MariposasLas Mariposas, , who were trying to who were trying to get Trujillo out of get Trujillo out of powerpower

The end of TrujilloThe end of Trujillo

• Trujillo was finally Trujillo was finally decided to be “too big decided to be “too big for his britches” in 1960 for his britches” in 1960 when he was trying to when he was trying to organize a plot to organize a plot to assassinate the president assassinate the president of Venezuelaof Venezuela

• The Organization of The Organization of American States decided American States decided they needed to remove they needed to remove TrujilloTrujillo

• Trujillo was shot in 1961 Trujillo was shot in 1961 by his own armed forces by his own armed forces

BibliographyBibliography

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rios_Mohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rios_Montt#U.S._backingntt#U.S._backing

• http://www.moreorless.au.com/killerhttp://www.moreorless.au.com/killers/montt.htmls/montt.html

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Lhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Leonidas_Trujilloeonidas_Trujillo

• http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augusto_Pinocen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augusto_Pinochethet

• http://http://www.amnesty.org/ailib/intcam/pinocwww.amnesty.org/ailib/intcam/pinochethet