Rebel Armed Forces
Encyclopedia
The Rebel Armed Forces was a Guatemala
n guerrilla organization established in 1961 and lasting until the peace agreements in 1996.
FAR is most significantly known for having killed the U.S. ambassador to Guatemala, John Gordon Mein
, in 1968. Also killed that year were two U.S. military advisers, colonel John Webber and Ernest Munro, although they might been killed at the command of PGT
leader Leonardo Castillo Johnson.
In 1970, the group briefly kidnapped Guatemala's foreign minister Alberto Fuentes Mohr
, but freed him in exchange for the release of a student leader. Karl von Spreti
, German ambassador to Guatemala, was kidnapped and murdered by the FAR as well in that year. Further actions that year included the kidnapping of U.S. labour attaché Sean Holly, he was freed for the release of FAR prisoners.
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
n guerrilla organization established in 1961 and lasting until the peace agreements in 1996.
FAR is most significantly known for having killed the U.S. ambassador to Guatemala, John Gordon Mein
John Gordon Mein
right|frame|Ambassador MeinAmbassador John Gordon Mein was the first United States ambassador to be assassinated while serving in office.He served as the Ambassador of the United States to Guatemala...
, in 1968. Also killed that year were two U.S. military advisers, colonel John Webber and Ernest Munro, although they might been killed at the command of PGT
Guatemalan Party of Labour
The Guatemalan Party of Labour was a communist party in Guatemala. It existed from 1949 to 1998. It gained prominence during the government of Col. Jacobo Arbenz...
leader Leonardo Castillo Johnson.
In 1970, the group briefly kidnapped Guatemala's foreign minister Alberto Fuentes Mohr
Alberto Fuentes Mohr
Alberto Fuentes Mohr was a Guatemalan economist and politician, one of the founders of the Social Democratic Party. He also served as finance minister and foreign minister during the 1960s.-Biography:...
, but freed him in exchange for the release of a student leader. Karl von Spreti
Karl von Spreti
Count Karl Maria von Spreti was a German diplomat. He is best known as the West German Ambassador to Guatemala from 1968 until his assassination in 1970...
, German ambassador to Guatemala, was kidnapped and murdered by the FAR as well in that year. Further actions that year included the kidnapping of U.S. labour attaché Sean Holly, he was freed for the release of FAR prisoners.