Policarpo Paz García
Encyclopedia
Policarpo Juan Paz García (7 December 1932 – 16 April 2000) was a Honduran
military leader and autocrat who served as President of Honduras
from 7 August 1978 until 27 January 1982.
Paz took power in 1978 in a "cocaine coup" financed by the Medellín Cartel
-linked drug lord Juan Matta-Ballesteros
. The CIA took "a close and friendly interest" in the coup as Paz, unlike his predecessor Juan Alberto Melgar Castro
, was a keen supporter of Nicaragua's Anastasio Somoza Debayle
. Under Paz, the Honduran army and intelligence service received a cut of Matta-Ballesteros' profits in return for protection, as Honduras became a major shipment route for cocaine and marijuana from Colombia. When the US Drug Enforcement Administration
set up its first office in Tegucigalpa in 1981, its resident agent "rapidly came to the accurate conclusion that the entire Honduran government was deeply involved in the drug trade."
His tenure is also noted for corruption, and the high level of military repression, including the startling leap of activity attributable to Battalion 316, a secret right-wing paramilitary death squad
trained by the CIA. The services of Batalión 3-16 were called upon during the Reagan administration
and the American military activity in Central America to support the Contras
.
The military had ruled Honduras almost continuously since 1963, and Paz was the last of the generals to rule the country. The Honduran general election, 1981
saw Roberto Suazo
elected President, and Paz handed over power in January 1982.
Paz was born in 1932 in La Arada, Goascoran
, Valle, 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...
military leader and autocrat who served as 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....
from 7 August 1978 until 27 January 1982.
Paz took power in 1978 in a "cocaine coup" financed by the Medellín Cartel
Medellín Cartel
The Medellín Cartel was an organized network of "drug suppliers and smugglers" originating in the city of Medellín, Colombia. The drug cartel operated in Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Central America, the United States, as well as Canada and Europe throughout the 1970s and 1980s. It was founded and...
-linked drug lord Juan Matta-Ballesteros
Juan Matta-Ballesteros
Juan Ramón Matta-Ballesteros is a former drug lord with ties to the Colombian Medellín Cartel...
. The CIA took "a close and friendly interest" in the coup as Paz, unlike his predecessor Juan Alberto Melgar Castro
Juan Alberto Melgar Castro
Juan Alberto Melgar Castro 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....
, was a keen supporter of Nicaragua's Anastasio Somoza Debayle
Anastasio Somoza Debayle
Anastasio Somoza Debayle was a Nicaraguan leader and officially the 73rd and 76th President of Nicaragua from 1 May 1967 to 1 May 1972 and from 1 December 1974 to 17 July 1979. As head of the National Guard, he was de facto ruler of the country from 1967 to 1979...
. Under Paz, the Honduran army and intelligence service received a cut of Matta-Ballesteros' profits in return for protection, as Honduras became a major shipment route for cocaine and marijuana from Colombia. When the US Drug Enforcement Administration
Drug Enforcement Administration
The Drug Enforcement Administration is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Justice, tasked with combating drug smuggling and use within the United States...
set up its first office in Tegucigalpa in 1981, its resident agent "rapidly came to the accurate conclusion that the entire Honduran government was deeply involved in the drug trade."
His tenure is also noted for corruption, and the high level of military repression, including the startling leap of activity attributable to Battalion 316, a secret right-wing paramilitary death squad
Death squad
A death squad is an armed military, police, insurgent, or terrorist squad that conducts extrajudicial killings, assassinations, and forced disappearances of persons as part of a war, insurgency or terror campaign...
trained by the CIA. The services of Batalión 3-16 were called upon during the Reagan administration
Reagan Administration
The United States presidency of Ronald Reagan, also known as the Reagan administration, was a Republican administration headed by Ronald Reagan from January 20, 1981, to January 20, 1989....
and the American military activity in Central America to support the Contras
Contras
The contras is a label given to the various rebel groups opposing Nicaragua's FSLN Sandinista Junta of National Reconstruction government following the July 1979 overthrow of Anastasio Somoza Debayle's dictatorship...
.
The military had ruled Honduras almost continuously since 1963, and Paz was the last of the generals to rule the country. The Honduran general election, 1981
Honduran general election, 1981
General elections were held in Honduras on 29 November 1981. Each voter had a single vote to cast for a presidential candidate, with seats in the National Congress divided based on the share of the vote their presidential candidate had won. The result was a victory for Roberto Suazo Cordova and the...
saw Roberto Suazo
Roberto Suazo Córdova
Roberto Suazo Córdova is a former President of Honduras.-Biography:In 1949, he graduated as a doctor from the University of San Carlos of Guatemala. After his graduation, Suazo practiced his profession in the general hospital of Guatemala City...
elected President, and Paz handed over power in January 1982.
Paz was born in 1932 in La Arada, Goascoran
Goascorán
Goascorán is a municipality in the Honduran department of Valle.-External links:...
, Valle, 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...
.