ATTITUDE OF GUATEMALAN ARMY TOWARD CURRENT POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

Created: 5/14/1953

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

CENTRAlMNTElLIGENCE AGENCY

country subject

INFORMATION

Guatemala

20

Attitude of Guatemalan Army toward Current Political Developments

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ormer member of the Guardia Civiluatemalan Army

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Appraisal of Content! 3.

Lieutenant Colonel Abraham KAlffiCQUIN Sierra, of tbe Infantry, atated that the Guatemalan Aray has been kept under constant alert for an armed attack, but without being informed by whoa; that the Army la apolitical, and the men, closely watched by there not allowed to dlacuaa or engage in politics, although they are aware of the feeling of the people that the Army Is merely profiteering from the unsettled condition of the country.

XARR0QUIN Sierra stated alao that he believea that the majority of the men

in the armed forces share the opinion that the policy of the AHBBIZ government is contrary to the interests and well-being of the country and are avare of the fact that public opinion ia also unfavorable to the regime. The men who make up the government, hARKQQUIH Sierra continued, feel an increasing fear, especially since the Salama uprising ofarch, that subversive movements nay break out at any time, in any part of the country. The government is therefore making cona tant changes for security reasons; this waa the case during the first .week of April, when personnel ohengea took place in such groups as the Ouardla de Honor, tho Base Milltar, and the various military zones. These changes did not include any discharges, becauae discharged Army men are moat feared aa poaaible opponents. Aray personnel Is constantly being watched, according to MARRCGUIN Sierra, and the government is continually reporting the possibility of an armed revolt.

the Salama Incident, KARROQUIK Sierra stated that there wasalert to the Army "because It iaermanent state of alert." surprise at the faot that the uprising took place In Salama,does not consider totrategio apot. He stated that, accordingfrom the Guatemalan, the movement was planned to extend

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to other departments In the northern zone,Progreso, Zacapa, Chiquimula, and Jalapa. If the Army reports were true, MAIUtCQUIN said, the plan failed because of laok of organisation, lack of adequate leadership, or cowardicesoae individuals acting as planned and others letting then down.

view of the recognition by the armed forces of the attitude of theMARRCQUIN Sierra stated that on more then one occasion "itthought' that lt was the duty of Carlos Enrique DIAZ, Chief of theto put an end to the constant violation of the Constitution andenactment of lavs whloh are contrary to tha interests of themen, said MARRCQIFIN Sierra, feel that inasmuch as DIAZ has swornthe Constitution, and apparently la not doing ao, he should makeof true patriotism byetachment of nan to Congress and

one to the National Palace and take charge. KARROQUIN Sierra stated that Army men are supposed to share the feeling that the Armyody would backovo, and that unfortunately, however, DIAZ seens to be passing up the opportunity for action.

a later conversation, KARROQUIN Sierra stated that in hie opinionnowood opportunity for action, provided by the government

by Its polltloal blunder in leaving the CDECA, so that Ouataaala stands alone. According to this officer, the opposition will need funds to continue the covenant, and direct or indirect assistance from other Central Americansuch asSalvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua in the form of permission to use their frontier territories, and arms. evolutionary army made up of mercenary soldiers, organised on three unspecified fronts, could not beby the Guatemalan Army. However, MARROQUIK Sierra went on, the opposition must sake some concerted action. He said lt shouldtrong nan, to organise the arrack from the outside, and success would be assured.

reasons for the fact that the Guatemalan Army, although the largest

I standing army In Central America and the, best equipped, is unable to hold even one position on any of its vulnerable frontier aones are lack of money and lack of discipline. The Guatemalan Army man of today is no longer content with "totoposte" (hardtack) and no pay; ha is well fed, and fairly welloth young officers and the high command are used to comfort and relaxation; also the younger officers do not get along with the olderajor handicap in the organisationnited front.

younger Guatemalan officer on active duty remarkedurely personal point ofeveal that they all agreemanner in which the Salana and San Jeroniao uprisings were plannedthat other Departments were also Involved, and that up to thehad been the best-planned movement. According to the Individualsmovement was to have been supported by air froa "elndairborne, well-equipped troops, with whose assistance it wouldto take such important positions as Cob an, Zacapa, andtha certainty that if these places fell into rebel hands, thebe taken up by Jalapa, El Progreso, Jutiapa, Quesaltenango, Sanand Sacatepequez. According to thia officer, if thethis movement had not failed, the government would have been unable to the situation and would havo been defeated.

1. Field Cpmr.ent. revious occasion MARR03UIN was quoted as having said that the well-paid men in the armed forces are few. He said that lower-ranking officers, such as he, are in arrears for their pay; that several are not receiving salaries specified for their rank; that he himselfaptain's salary, and his Is not an exceptional, case. According to him, the majority of the officers in the armed services earn between jilSOonth, which is not sufficient to cover their needs, particularly when they are months behind in receiving their pay.

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