Hugo Banzer

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Lore & Background

Hugo Banzer Suárez was born on 10 May 1926 in the hacienda Concepción, Santa Cruz, son of César Banzer Aliaga and María Luisa Suárez Justiniano. His grandfather, Georg Banzer, was a German immigrant originally from Osnabrück. At age 14 in 1941, Banzer entered the Army Military College, graduating with the rank of second lieutenant in 1947. He trained at the Military College of the Nation in Argentina, the Armored Cavalry School at Fort Hood in the United States, and the School of the Americas in Panama. Promoted to colonel in 1961, he served as military attaché at the Embassy of Bolivia in the United States from 1964 to 1966 and in Argentina from 1967 to 1969, and as director of the Military Academy from 1969 to 1971. Banzer rose to power via a coup d'état against socialist president Juan José Torres on 17 August 1971, masterminding a military uprising in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. As dictator, he banned left-leaning parties, suspended the Central Obrera Boliviana, and closed the nation's universities. Human rights groups claim that during the Banzerato several thousand Bolivians sought asylum, 3,000 political opponents were arrested, 200 were killed, and many more were tortured. In the basement of the Ministry of the Interior, around 2,000 political prisoners were held and tortured. Banzer was removed via a coup led by Juan Pereda in 1978. He later ran 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 his 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. After being diagnosed with lung cancer, Banzer resigned in 2001 and was succeeded by Vice President Jorge Quiroga.

Reader's Guide

Hugo Banzer's significance lies in his two contrasting presidencies: a repressive military dictatorship from 1971 to 1978 and a democratically elected term from 1997 to 2001. His Banzerato regime was characterized by severe human rights abuses: several thousand Bolivians sought asylum, 3,000 political opponents were arrested, 200 were killed, and many more tortured, with around 2,000 political prisoners held and tortured in the Ministry of the Interior. He restored diplomatic relations with Chile in 1975, but talks over Bolivian access to the Pacific Ocean failed when Peru refused the Pinochet proposal. After his removal, Banzer remained an influential figure in Bolivian politics and eventually won the presidency in 1997 with 22.26% of the popular vote. His second term was marred by the Cochabamba Water War, during which he declared a state of siege in 2000 that suspended several civil liberties and led to violent clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement. He resigned in 2001 after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

Did You Know?

• Banzer entered the Army Military College at age 14 in 1941, graduating as second lieutenant in 1947.
• His grandfather, Georg Banzer, was a German immigrant originally from Osnabrück.
• During the Banzerato, around 2,000 political prisoners were held and tortured in the basement of the Ministry of the Interior.
• Banzer restored diplomatic relations with Chile in 1975, broken since 1962, over talks about Bolivian access to the Pacific Ocean.
• He resigned in 2001 after being diagnosed with lung cancer and was succeeded by Vice President Jorge Quiroga.