Hugo Banzer

Hugo Banzer (May 10, 1926 – May 5, 2002) was a Bolivian general and politician, twice serving as President of Bolivia, the first time from 1971 to 1978, and again from 1997 to 2001.

Banzer first seized power in a military coup against the incumbent leftist president, Juan José Torres, in 1971, with assistance from Richard Nixon, the then-President of the United States who helped set up several right-wing military regimes in South America during this time period through Operation Condor. He would spend the next seven years ruling Bolivia as a military dictator.

Banzer banned all the left-leaning parties, suspended the powerful Central Obrera Boliviana, and closed the nation's universities. "Order" was now the paramount aim, and no means were spared to restore authority and stifle dissent. Banzer was able to rule with a measure of civilian support until 1974, when the main parties realized he did not intend to hold elections and was instead using them to perpetuate himself in power. At that point, Banzer dispensed with all pretenses and banned all political activity, exiled all major leaders (Paz Estenssoro included), and proceeded to rule henceforth solely with military support.

Banzer's rule from 1971 to 1978 was characterized by rampant human rights abuses and crimes against humanity. Several thousand Bolivians sought asylum in foreign countries, 3,000 political opponents were arrested, 200 were killed, and many more were tortured. In the basement of the Ministry of the Interior or "the horror chambers" around 2,000 political prisoners were held and tortured during the 1971-1978 military rule. Many remaining political opponents and anyone else Banzer perceived as a threat to his power either simply vanished, were kidnapped and imprisoned, tortured, or murdered. He also managed to form a diplomatic alliance with Augusto Pinochet of Chile.

Banzer was overthrown in another coup in July 1978 by a military/civilian coalition. After he was deposed, democratic elections were restored in Bolivia, and Banzer founded the Acción Democrática Nacionalista, or ADN political party. He ran for elections in 1979 and 1980, obtaining third place in both contests.

The former dictator ran again and finished second in 1993. Finally, in 1997, Banzer achieved his dream of becoming constitutionally-elected President of Bolivia, at the age of 71. Indeed, he was the first former dictator in Latin America's recent history to transition successfully to democratic politics and return to power by way of the ballot box. During his tenure he launched - under the guidelines outlined by the United States - a program to fight drug-trafficking in Bolivia which called for the eradication of coca, a controversial strategy. He also had the usual trouble with the unions. In 2001, he was diagnosed with lung cancer, and even though he had earned a five-year term (he had himself agitated to legally enlarge the presidential term) had to resign on August 7, 2001. He was succeeded by his Vice-President Jorge Quiroga.

Banzer died of lung cancer at a medical clinic in Santa Cruz de la Sierra on May 5, 2002, aged 75. His remains were buried at the General Cemetery of Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz.