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Born 4 July 1924
San Juan Chamelco, Guatemala -
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1954: General Fernando Romeo Lucas García
participated in the military coup that overthrew President Jacobo Árbenz, which was backed by the United States. -
Outbreak of Civil War: The Guatemalan Civil War officially begins in 1960, as leftist insurgents, including groups like the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URNG), rise up against the government.
Repressive Government Response: The Guatemalan government, led by various military juntas and conservative regimes, responds with brutal repression, often targeting suspected sympathizers of the insurgents. -
1978: General Fernando Romeo Lucas García was elected as the President of Guatemala, succeeding Romeo Lucas García. His presidency was marked by controversial policies and human rights abuses. -
In 1982, the Guatemalan army instituted “Operation Sophia,” which aimed at ending insurgent guerrilla warfare by destroying the civilian base in which they hid. This program specifically targeted the Mayan population, who were believed to be supporting the guerilla movement. -
Under Ríos Montt's command, the Guatemalan military implements a scorched-earth policy in certain regions, leading to widespread displacement and deaths of civilians.
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Ríos Montt's regime begins a brutal counterinsurgency campaign against leftist guerrilla groups and suspected sympathizers. This campaign would later be known as the Guatemalan genocide. Indigenous Mayan communities were particularly targeted.
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Lucas García's presidency came to an end when he was overthrown by a military coup led by Efraín Ríos Montt. Ríos Montt accused Lucas García of corruption and mismanagement.
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Efraín Ríos Montt comes to power in Guatemala through a coup d'état, becoming the de facto president.
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After being overthrown, Lucas García went into exile in Venezuela.
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Ríos Montt is overthrown in another coup led by his defense minister, Óscar Humberto Mejía Victores. Ríos Montt's time in power officially ends. -
Peace Process: Negotiations between the government and various insurgent groups lead to the signing of peace accords in 1996. The conflict officially ends.
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Died 27 May 2006 (aged 81)
Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela -
Ríos Montt is found guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity. Ríos Montt was charged with genocide and crimes against humanity for his role in the brutal counterinsurgency campaign carried out by the Guatemalan military against indigenous Mayan communities. This campaign, which lasted from the early 1980s through the mid-1990s, involved widespread human rights abuses, including massacres, forced displacement, and sexual violence.
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