Juan Alberto Melgar Castro
Encyclopedia
Juan Alberto Melgar Castro (June 26, 1930, Marcala
- December 2, 1987) was a general
of the Honduran military
who served as the head of state
of Honduras
from April 22, 1975 to August 7, 1979, when he was removed from power by others in the military.
General Melgar Castro took power in the 1975 Honduran coup d'état
which removed Oswaldo López Arellano
after his bribery scandal with United Fruit Company.
During his rule, the process of land reform
slowed because of pressure from land-owning sectors and influential politician
s.
His wife Nora Gúnera de Melgar
was Mayor of Tegucigalpa
. She was the nominee of the National Party
(Partido Nacional) for President of Honduras
in 1997, but lost to the Liberal Party
nominee, Carlos Roberto Flores
.
General Melgar Castro died of a heart attack near San Pedro Sula
on 2 December 1987.
Marcala
Marcala is a municipality in the Honduran department of La Paz.-External links:*...
- December 2, 1987) was a general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
of the Honduran military
Military of Honduras
-pre-1979:During the twentieth century, Honduran military leaders frequently became presidents, either through elections or by coups d'état. General Tiburcio Carías Andino was elected in 1932, he later on called a constituent assembly that allowed him to be reelected, and his rule became more...
who served as the head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
of Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
from April 22, 1975 to August 7, 1979, when he was removed from power by others in the military.
General Melgar Castro took power in the 1975 Honduran coup d'état
1975 Honduran coup d'état
The 1975 Honduran coup d'état took place on 22 April 1975, with Oswaldo López Arellano being ousted in a military coup led by his fellow General Juan Alberto Melgar Castro. The coup was prompted in part by the "Bananagate" scandal, exposed by the U.S...
which removed Oswaldo López Arellano
Oswaldo López Arellano
Oswaldo Enrique López Arellano was a two-time President of Honduras, first from 1963 to 1971 and again from 1972 to 1975. He gained power both times via military force....
after his bribery scandal with United Fruit Company.
During his rule, the process of land reform
Land reform
[Image:Jakarta farmers protest23.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Farmers protesting for Land Reform in Indonesia]Land reform involves the changing of laws, regulations or customs regarding land ownership. Land reform may consist of a government-initiated or government-backed property redistribution,...
slowed because of pressure from land-owning sectors and influential politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
s.
His wife Nora Gúnera de Melgar
Nora Gúnera de Melgar
Nora Gúnera de Melgar is a Honduran politician and wife of General Juan Alberto Melgar , the Honduran military Head of State from 1975 to 1978. After being elected mayor of Tegucigalpa, she ran for presidency for the National Party in 1997 elections, but lost to Liberal Party nominee Carlos...
was Mayor of Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa , and commonly referred as Tegus , is the capital of Honduras and seat of government of the Republic, along with its twin sister Comayagüela. Founded on September 29, 1578 by the Spanish, it became the country's capital on October 30, 1880 under President Marco Aurelio Soto...
. She was the nominee of the National Party
National Party of Honduras
The National Party is a centre-right conservative political party in Honduras and the main right-wing political party in the country. Founded in 1902 the PNH is identified with the color blue as its rival the Liberal Party of Honduras , is red. All the democratic elections in Honduras have been...
(Partido Nacional) for President of Honduras
President of Honduras
This page lists the Presidents of Honduras.Colonial Honduras declared its independence from Spain on 15 September 1821. From 5 January 1822 to 1 July 1823, Honduras was part of the First Mexican Empire of Agustín de Iturbide....
in 1997, but lost to the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Honduras
The Liberal Party of Honduras is a centre-left liberal political party in Honduras that was founded in 1891. The party is a member of the Liberal International...
nominee, Carlos Roberto Flores
Carlos Roberto Flores
Carlos Roberto Flores Facussé was President of Honduras from 27 January 1998 to 27 January 2002 and President of the National Congress from 25 January 1994 to 25 January 1998.- Biography :...
.
General Melgar Castro died of a heart attack near San Pedro Sula
San Pedro Sula
San Pedro Sula is a city in Honduras. It is located in the northwest corner of the country, in the Valle de Sula , about 60 km south of Puerto Cortés on the Caribbean. With an estimated population of 638,259 people in the main municipality, and 802,598 in its metro area , it is the second...
on 2 December 1987.
External links
- National Party of Honduras official site