Manuel Colom Argueta

Who was Manuel Colom Argueta?

Manuel Colom Argueta was mayor of Guatemala City and an important progressive leader of the opposition in Guatemala.

Born in Guatemala City, Colom studied at the El Rosario school, the Liceo Infantil and Escuela Nacional República de Costa Rica, completing his secondary schooling at the Instituto Nacional Central para Varones where he became student association president. He graduated as one of the top students. He entered the Law Faculty at the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala in 1950, again becoming a student leader there. He became involved in national campaigns for democracy and against the dictatorships during his studies and in 1955 was one of 33 citizens to publicly oppose the plebiscite aimed at confirming Carlos Castillo in power. He was targeted in the armed break-up of a student protest on 25 June 1956 which left several students dead.

Colom graduated as a lawyer and notary in 1957. He was granted a scholarship to continue his studies in Florence, Italy, having helped to found the Partido Revolucionario, later leaving the party claiming it had abandoned its democratic ideals. He returned from Italy in 1960.