Complete Thesis_double spaced abstract.pdf

overthrown in a military coup in 1983 led by Oscar Humberto Mejía Víctores, the former minister
of defense. General Víctores ruled Guatemala with a civilian-military administration until 1986;
General Montt’s military commanders in the “major military zones” were replaced as was the
army chief of staff (REMHI, 1999, 243). The military viewed the 1983 to 1985 period as one of
restructuring, reform and rebuilding to bring stability to the state. President Víctores introduced
the “Plan Stabilization 84” to address the guerrilla movement. The repressive strategies used by
prior generals remained; however, Víctores strategy also included “a public show of concern for
the Mayan communities’ welfare” (Perera, 1995, 107). It was an effort to appease foreign aid
donors and allied states by concealing the abuses and utilizing more “sophisticated” strategies of
repression such as “psychological indoctrination”; establishment of model villages were central to
his strategies (Perera, 1995, 107).
The military generals serving as president from the 1950s through the 1980s left a legacy
of poverty and inequality, corruption, destruction, and a crippled social movement. The impact of
nearly 90% of the population living below the poverty line, increasing urbanization, and a loss of
“fifteen years of growth” during the 1980s may have facilitated the rebuilding of the social and
labor movements in Guatemala in the late 1980s (Vanden, 2002, 266). Included in the
regeneration of social movements were groups seeking justice for human rights violations, groups
representing the majority indigenous populations, and groups representing women. A new
constitution was implemented in 1985 and elections were held. The military believed its position
was solidified enough to withstand a civilian president and Vinicio Cerezo a civilian, and member
of the Christian Democrats was elected. Cerezo was elected with a 70% majority over the center-
right candidate; furthermore, he was elected despite the strong opposition of the business elites
(Perera, 1995, 284). He immediately set about negotiating with more moderate military leaders
to ensure his presidency had at least one ally. Factions in the military attempted two coups
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