Dirty War (Mexico)
Encyclopedia
"La guerra sucia," or the dirty war, refers to an internal war between the Mexican PRI
-ruled government and left-wing student and guerrilla groups in the 1960s and 1970s, largely under the presidencies of Luis Echeverría
and José López Portillo
. The war was characterized by a backlash against the active student movement of the late 1960s which terminated in the Tlatelolco massacre
at a 1968 student rally in Mexico City, in which 30 to 300 (official report, non-governmental sources claim thousands) students were killed. During the war, government forces carried out disappearances, estimated at 1200, systematic torture, and "probable extralegal executions."
There were several barely connected groups fighting against the government during this period. Among the most important, the 23 of September Communist League was at the forefront of the conflict, active in several cities throughout Mexico, drawing heavily from Christian Socialist and Marxist student organizations. They carried out confrontations with Mexican security forces, several kidnappings, and attempted to kidnap Margarita López Portillo, the sister of the president. In Guerrero
, the Party of the Poor, ostensibly fighting against landholder impunity and oppressive police practices in rural areas, was led by the ex-teacher Lucio Cabañas
. They carried out ambushes of the army and security forces and the abduction of Guerrero's governor-elect.
The legalization of leftist political parties in 1978 along with the amnesty of imprisoned and at large guerrillas caused a number of combatants to end militant struggle against the government. However, certain groups continued fighting, and the National Human Rights Commission states the hostilities continued into 1982.
In June 2002, a report prepared for Vicente Fox
, the first president not from the PRI in 70 years, detailed the government's actions from 1964 to 1982. The report states, according to BBC News
, that the Mexican army "kidnapped, tortured and killed hundreds of rebel suspects" in the period and accused the Mexican state of genocide. The Mexican Special Prosecutor claimed the report was overly biased against the military, and failed to detail crimes committed by rebels, which included kidnappings, bank robberies, and assassinations.
Institutional Revolutionary Party
The Institutional Revolutionary Party is a Mexican political party that held power in the country—under a succession of names—for more than 70 years. The PRI is a member of the Socialist International, as is the rival Party of the Democratic Revolution , making Mexico one of the few...
-ruled government and left-wing student and guerrilla groups in the 1960s and 1970s, largely under the presidencies of Luis Echeverría
Luis Echeverría
Luis Echeverría Álvarez served as President of Mexico from 1970 to 1976.-Early history:Echeverría joined the faculty of the National Autonomous University of Mexico in 1947 and taught political theory...
and José López Portillo
José López Portillo
José López Portillo y Pacheco was the President of Mexico from 1976 to 1982.Born in Mexico City, López Portillo studied Law at the National Autonomous University of Mexico before beginning his political career with the Institutional Revolutionary Party in 1959.He held several positions in the...
. The war was characterized by a backlash against the active student movement of the late 1960s which terminated in the Tlatelolco massacre
Tlatelolco massacre
The Tlatelolco massacre, also known as The Night of Tlatelolco , was a government massacre of student and civilian protesters and bystanders that took place during the afternoon and night of October 2, 1968, in the Plaza de las Tres Culturas in the Tlatelolco section of Mexico City...
at a 1968 student rally in Mexico City, in which 30 to 300 (official report, non-governmental sources claim thousands) students were killed. During the war, government forces carried out disappearances, estimated at 1200, systematic torture, and "probable extralegal executions."
There were several barely connected groups fighting against the government during this period. Among the most important, the 23 of September Communist League was at the forefront of the conflict, active in several cities throughout Mexico, drawing heavily from Christian Socialist and Marxist student organizations. They carried out confrontations with Mexican security forces, several kidnappings, and attempted to kidnap Margarita López Portillo, the sister of the president. In Guerrero
Guerrero
Guerrero officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guerrero is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 81 municipalities and its capital city is Chilpancingo....
, the Party of the Poor, ostensibly fighting against landholder impunity and oppressive police practices in rural areas, was led by the ex-teacher Lucio Cabañas
Lucío Cabañas
Lucio Cabañas Barrientos was a Mexican schoolteacher who became a revolutionary, albeit not a Marxist one. Cabañas regarded Emiliano Zapata as his role model and he never abandoned his Christian faith, as can be seen in Gerardo Tort's film documentary on him.He was born in El Porvenir, of Atoyac...
. They carried out ambushes of the army and security forces and the abduction of Guerrero's governor-elect.
The legalization of leftist political parties in 1978 along with the amnesty of imprisoned and at large guerrillas caused a number of combatants to end militant struggle against the government. However, certain groups continued fighting, and the National Human Rights Commission states the hostilities continued into 1982.
In June 2002, a report prepared for Vicente Fox
Vicente Fox
Vicente Fox Quesada is a Mexican former politician who served as President of Mexico from 1 December 2000 to 30 November 2006 and currently serves as co-President of the Centrist Democrat International, an international organization of Christian democratic political parties.Fox was elected...
, the first president not from the PRI in 70 years, detailed the government's actions from 1964 to 1982. The report states, according to BBC News
BBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
, that the Mexican army "kidnapped, tortured and killed hundreds of rebel suspects" in the period and accused the Mexican state of genocide. The Mexican Special Prosecutor claimed the report was overly biased against the military, and failed to detail crimes committed by rebels, which included kidnappings, bank robberies, and assassinations.