Fernando Romeo Lucas García (b. San Juan Chamelco, Alta Verapaz, 4 July 1924 – d. Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela, 27 May 2006) was the 25th President of Guatemala from 1 July 1978 to 23 March 1982. Although he was democratically elected as Institutional Democratic Party candidate (with the support of the Revolutionary Party), during General Lucas' regime political repression and assassinations of major progressive opposition figures (former progressive Mayor Manuel Colom and Social Democrat Party founder Alberto Fuentes in 1979) reached an alarming high. He was president during Spanish embassy fire in Guatemala City on 31 January 1980, in which 37 people died. Later, about a year before he resigned from presidency, he took charge in starting the Guatemalan Genocide. His vice president, Francisco Villagrán, resigned on 1 September 1980, citing differences with Lucas and disapproval of the country's worsening human rights situation. US military and economic aid resumed under the Garcia government, despite a congressional embargo. Between FS 1978 and FS 1980, the U.S. provided $8.5 million in military assistance, mostly FMS credit sales, and approximately $1.8 million in export licensing for commercial arms sales.[1] In 1981, the Reagan Administration publicly announced the shipment of approximately $3.2 million in military vehicles and other supplies to the army, justifying these shipments by blaming the guerrillas for the violence perpetrated against civilians.[2] In the final days of his regime, he was removed by a coup d'état led by Gen. Efraín Ríos
In 1999 the Audiencia Nacional of Spain began criminal proceedings for accusations of torture and genocide against the Maya population after a formal petition introduced by Rigoberta Menchú. However, the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal denied the extradition on 22 June 2005, arguing that the required evidence was not presented and lifted the house arrest.
He died in exile in Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela, where he had lived for 12 years with his wife Elsa Cirigliano, suffering from Alzheimers and various other ailments, at the age of 81.
| Preceded by Kjell Laugerud |
President of Guatemala 1978–1982 |
Succeeded by Efraín Ríos |
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