Óscar Humberto Mejía Victores

Who is Óscar Humberto Mejía Victores?

Brigadier General Óscar Humberto Mejía Victores was the 27th President of Guatemala from 8 August 1983 to 14 January 1986. A member of the military, he was president during the apex of repression and death squad activity in the Central American nation. When he was minister of defense, he rallied a coup against José Efraín Ríos Montt, then president of Guatemala, which he justified by declaring that the government was being abused by religious fanatics. He allowed a return to democracy, with elections for a constituent assembly in 1984 followed by general elections in 1985.

Along with former Presidents José Efraín Ríos Montt and Fernando Romeo Lucas García, President Mejía has been charged with murder, kidnapping, and genocide in the Spanish court system.