Hugo Banzer, Bolivian general and politician, 62nd President of Bolivia (b. 1926)
Hugo Banzer Suárez (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈuɣo banˈseɾ ˈswaɾes]; 10 May 1926 – 5 May 2002) was a Bolivian politician and military officer who served as the 51st President of Bolivia. He held the Bolivian presidency twice: from 1971 to 1978 in a military dictatorship; and then again from 1997 to 2001, as a democratically elected president.
Banzer, a participant of Operation Condor closely associated with former Nazi officer Klaus Barbie, rose to power via a coup d'état against socialist president Juan José Torres and severely repressed labor leaders, clergymen, indigenous people, and students during his 1971–1978 dictatorship. Several thousand Bolivians were either forced to seek asylum in foreign countries, arrested, tortured, or killed during this period, known as the Banzerato.
After Banzer's removal via a coup lead by Juan Pereda, he remained an influential figure in Bolivian politics and would run for election to the presidency via the ballot box on several occasions, eventually succeeding in 1997 via a narrow plurality of 22.26% of the popular vote. During Banzer's constitutional term, he extended presidential term limits from four years to five and presided over the Cochabamba Water War, declaring a state of siege in 2000 that suspended several civil liberties and lead to violent clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement. After being diagnosed with lung cancer, Banzer resigned in 2001 and was succeeded by Vice President Jorge Quiroga.
2002May, 5
Hugo Banzer
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Events on 2002
- 16Jan
Osama bin Laden
The UN Security Council unanimously establishes an arms embargo and the freezing of assets of Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda, and the remaining members of the Taliban. - 4Apr
Angolan Civil War
The Angolan government and UNITA rebels sign a peace treaty ending the Angolan Civil War. - 14Apr
Hugo Chávez
Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez returns to office two days after being ousted and arrested by the country's military. - 12May
Fidel Castro
Former US President Jimmy Carter arrives in Cuba for a five-day visit with Fidel Castro, becoming the first President of the United States, in or out of office, to visit the island since Castro's 1959 revolution. - 20Aug
Saddam Hussein
A group of Iraqis opposed to the regime of Saddam Hussein take over the Iraqi Embassy in Berlin, Germany for five hours before releasing their hostages and surrendering.