JIMMY GROOM | OPINION COLUMNIST
Latin America has been known as one of the most dangerous areas on Earth. From corrupt politicians, revolutions, cartel violence and drugs, Latin America is in the midst of a geopolitical disaster. Although Latin Americans are governing themselves, many of their issues stem from foreign intrusion in their governmental systems. The Cold War policies of the United States introduced the Latin American region to a new type of guerilla warfare and far-left and far-right wing dictatorships.
Guatemala was one country at the center of this chaos. In the 1930’s and 1940’s, while Europe was being ravaged by the allied and axis powers during World War II, Guatemala was being ruled by a corrupt dictator named Jorge Ubico Castañeda. Castañeda was a military general turned politician. He gave large amounts of land to wealthy businesspeople and to a corporation called the United Fruit Company. The United Fruit Company was an American based fruit company that obtained its fruit supply from Latin American countries like Guatemala. Castañeda cut the property taxes of the United Fruit Company drastically. This resulted in less money that was provided to help poor working class Guatemalans.
From 1944 through the 1950’s, Guatemala experienced dramatic political reforms to it’s government. Castañeda was removed from office in 1944 by pro-democracy Guatemalans. Juan José Arevalo, a former college professor that was exiled from Guatemala, returned to Guatemala from Argentina and became President of the country. He was considered a moderate-left wing politician. He created land reforms that favored working-class Guatemalans. He also taxed wealthy landowners and businesses to provide more services for middle-class and lower-class workers.
In 1951, Arevalo left office, and he was replaced by Jacobo Arbenz Guzman. Guzman was a former Guatemalan Army Officer who helped to overthrow Castañeda, and he was the Secretary of War under President Arevalo. Guzman introduced much higher taxes upon the rich and big businesses like the United Fruit Company. These taxes threatened US economic interests in the region. President Eisenhower and his administration sent CIA agents into neighboring countries like El Salvador and Honduras to train exiled right-wing Guatemalans to return home and overthrow Guzman’s government. These CIA trained militants proved to be a powerful fighting force because in 1954, Guzman was forced to resign. He fled to Mexico where he would remain the rest of his life.
Castillo Adams, exiled military leader, took control of the government. He made conservative reforms to the government, and United States interests were partially restored in the region. When two sides with opposing ideas have tactical training specifically from the United States and the Soviet Union, there tends to be constant violence in the region. Since then, Guatemala has seen multiple corrupt dictatorships, and civil war. Through this chaos, armed guerilla groups have taken advantage of the chaos in the region and used areas like Honduras and Guatemala to transport narcotics and other illegal drugs through these countries and into the United States. These drug cartels keep power through the bribing of politicians and powerful businesspeople. The State Department has advised travelers to exercise great caution while traveling through Guatemala due to the cartel crime in the region. Many of the issues facing Guatemala are the direct result in American intrusion in their political affairs for the financial well-being of the American economy.
St. Norbert Times 