Óscar Humberto Mejía
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His Excellency General of Division Óscar Humberto Mejía Victores |
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|---|---|
| 27th President of Guatemala | |
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In office 8 August 1983 – 14 January 1986 |
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| Preceded by | Efraín Ríos Montt |
| Succeeded by | Vinicio Cerezo |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
9 December 1931 Guatemala City |
| Died | 1 February 2016 (aged 84) Guatemala City |
| Spouse(s) | María Cristina de Mejía |
Brigadier General Óscar Humberto Mejía Víctores (9 December 1931 – 1 February 2016) was the 27th President of Guatemala from 8 August 1983 to 14 January 1986. A member of the military, he was president during the apex of repression and death squad activity in the Central American nation. When he was minister of defense, he rallied a coup against José Efraín Ríos Montt, then president of Guatemala, which he justified by declaring that the government was being abused by religious fanatics. He allowed for a return to democracy, with elections for a constituent assembly in 1984 followed by general elections in 1985.
Ríos Montt was deposed on 8 August 1983 by his own Minister of Defense, General Mejía Víctores. Mejía Víctores became then de facto president and justified the coup by saying that "religious fanatics" were abusing their positions in the government and also because of "official corruption." Ríos Montt remained in politics, founding the Guatemalan Republican Front party in 1989. Elected to Congress, he was elected President of Congress in 1995 and 2000. Due to international pressure, as well as pressure from other Latin American nations, General Mejía Victores allowed a gradual return to democracy in Guatemala. On 1 July 1984 an election was held for representatives to a Constituent Assembly to draft a democratic constitution. On 30 May 1985, the Constituent Assembly finished drafting a new constitution, which took effect immediately. General elections were scheduled, and civilian candidate Vinicio Cerezo was elected President. Revival of democratic government did not end the "disappearances" and death squad killings, as extrajudicial state violence had become an integral part of the political culture.
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