Celso Torrelio
Encyclopedia
Celso Torrelio Villa was a military general, a member of the Junta of Commanders of the Armed Forces
(1981), and de facto President of Bolivia
between September 1981 and August 1982.
A native of Padilla, department of Chuquisaca
, Torrelio joined the Bolivian Army
and rose to the rank of general. He served as the notorious dictator
Luis García Meza's Minister of Interior after the departure (forced by Washington) of the equally infamous Colonel Luis Arce
. The García Meza regime became internationally known for its extreme brutality. Some 1,000 people are estimated to have been killed by the Bolivian army
and security forces between July 1980 and August 1981. In addition, the García Meza government was deeply involved in drug trafficking activities, and may have come to power financed directly by the drug cartel
s. This led to the complete isolation of the regime. Even the new, conservative U.S. President, Ronald Reagan
, kept its distance and seemed to prefer better options. Eventually, the international outcry was sufficiently strong to force García Meza's resignation on August 3, 1981. The high command of the Military of Bolivia
at that point entrusted General Celso Torrelio with the presidency.
Although the military's idea was to replace the polarizing García Meza with a less controversial and more acceptable leader equally as committed to the principles of the anti-communist National Security Doctrine, their plan did not come to fruition. The regime continued to be shunned internationally, and despised domestically. Furthermore, a very grave economic crisis loomed on the horizon, the result of years of mismanagement, a global recession
, and the onset of the so-called Latin American debt crisis
. Faced with the choices of mounting a fresh repressive campaign to re-equilibrate the reeling regime (with the increased international isolation
such a move would entail) or call elections, the high command chose the latter. In July 1982, General Torrelio was replaced with General Guido Vildoso
, who was charged with returning the country to democratic rule. Torrelio then retired and did not return to play any role in Bolivian politics.
Torrelio was replaced by the Junta of Commanders of the Armed Forces
(1982).
Junta of Commanders of the Armed Forces 1981 (Bolivia)
The Junta of Commanders of the Armed Forces was a military junta which ruled Bolivia from August 4, 1981 through September 4, 1981 and consisted of Commander of the Bolivian Air Force, General Waldo Bernal Pereira; General of the Bolivian Army, Celso Torrelio; and Óscar Jaime Pammo, a Rear Admiral...
(1981), and de facto President of Bolivia
President of Bolivia
The President of Bolivia is head of state and head of government of Bolivia. According to the current Constitution, the president is elected by popular vote to a five year term, renewable once...
between September 1981 and August 1982.
A native of Padilla, department of Chuquisaca
Chuquisaca Department
Chuquisaca is a department of Bolivia located in the center south. It borders on the departments of Cochabamba, Tarija, Potosí, and Santa Cruz. The departmental capital is Sucre, which is also the constitutional capital of Bolivia.-Geography:...
, Torrelio joined the Bolivian Army
Bolivian Army
The Bolivian Army or Ejército Boliviano is the land forces component of the Military of Bolivia, the Bolivian Army has around 31,500 men.- Combat units directly under the Army general command :...
and rose to the rank of general. He served as the notorious dictator
Dictator
A dictator is a ruler who assumes sole and absolute power but without hereditary ascension such as an absolute monarch. When other states call the head of state of a particular state a dictator, that state is called a dictatorship...
Luis García Meza's Minister of Interior after the departure (forced by Washington) of the equally infamous Colonel Luis Arce
Luis Arce Gómez
Colonel Luis Arce Gómez was a Bolivian military officer. In 1980 he backed the bloody coup that brought to power the infamous General Luis García Meza...
. The García Meza regime became internationally known for its extreme brutality. Some 1,000 people are estimated to have been killed by the Bolivian army
Military of Bolivia
- Army :The Bolivian Army has around 55,500 men. There are six military regions in the army. The Army is organized into ten divisions...
and security forces between July 1980 and August 1981. In addition, the García Meza government was deeply involved in drug trafficking activities, and may have come to power financed directly by the drug cartel
Drug cartel
Drug cartels are criminal organizations developed with the primary purpose of promoting and controlling drug trafficking operations. They range from loosely managed agreements among various drug traffickers to formalized commercial enterprises. The term was applied when the largest trafficking...
s. This led to the complete isolation of the regime. Even the new, conservative U.S. President, Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, kept its distance and seemed to prefer better options. Eventually, the international outcry was sufficiently strong to force García Meza's resignation on August 3, 1981. The high command of the Military of Bolivia
Military of Bolivia
- Army :The Bolivian Army has around 55,500 men. There are six military regions in the army. The Army is organized into ten divisions...
at that point entrusted General Celso Torrelio with the presidency.
Although the military's idea was to replace the polarizing García Meza with a less controversial and more acceptable leader equally as committed to the principles of the anti-communist National Security Doctrine, their plan did not come to fruition. The regime continued to be shunned internationally, and despised domestically. Furthermore, a very grave economic crisis loomed on the horizon, the result of years of mismanagement, a global recession
Global recession
A global recession is a period of global economic slowdown. The International Monetary Fund takes many factors into account when defining a global recession, but it states that global economic growth of 3 percent or less is "equivalent to a global recession".By this measure, four periods since...
, and the onset of the so-called Latin American debt crisis
Latin American debt crisis
The Latin American debt crisis was a financial crisis that occurred in the early 1980s , often known as the "lost decade", when Latin American countries reached a point where their foreign debt exceeded their earning power and they were not able to repay it.-Origins:In the 1960s and 1970s many...
. Faced with the choices of mounting a fresh repressive campaign to re-equilibrate the reeling regime (with the increased international isolation
International isolation
International isolation is a penalty applied by the international community or a sizeable or powerful group of countries, like the United Nations, towards one nation, government or people group...
such a move would entail) or call elections, the high command chose the latter. In July 1982, General Torrelio was replaced with General Guido Vildoso
Guido Vildoso
General Guido Vildoso Calderón was an officer in the Military of Bolivia and de facto President of Bolivia in 1982.Born in La Paz, Vildoso joined the Bolivian armed forces and took specialized courses in Brazil, Panama, and the United States. In the 1970s he served in the cabinet of military...
, who was charged with returning the country to democratic rule. Torrelio then retired and did not return to play any role in Bolivian politics.
Torrelio was replaced by the Junta of Commanders of the Armed Forces
Junta of Commanders of the Armed Forces 1982 (Bolivia)
The Junta of Commanders of the Armed Forces was a military junta which ruled Bolivia from July 19, 1982 through July 21, 1982 and consisted of General Natalio Morales Mosquera, Bolivian Navy Rear Admiral Óscar Jaime Pammo, and General Ángel Mariscal Gómez...
(1982).