In 1952, the Arbenz goverment passed the Agrarian Reform Law.
Approximately 100,000 peasant families land wel credit and technical assistance from new state agencies. As rural social services were improved, the Indians for the first time since the Spanish conques beneficiares of governe beneficiaries government policies.
The law expropriated idle lands, with compensation to former owners. The intention was 'develop capitanst mernoas or proaucuon agriculture ... and to prepare the path TOR Unused lands were to be a major target of the reform. United Fruit had more than per Coll of holdings under cultivation.
The agrarian reform polarised the country into supporters and UUponents of the October Revolution.
Confidence The United Fruit Corapany led the Increasingly the bourgeoisie mov into opposition fearing both Washington's anger found confidence of the workers and larmers.
It was the beginning of a civil war which rages in Guatemala to this day o oust me aroeri coverament the US sent to Central America a team ot operatives made up of ClA agents, experts ir: covert. anticommunist oocralols. stake in Guatemala On 18 June, 1954. Castillo Armas invaded Guatemala this mercenarv force of some 200 men. while CIA planes flown by American pilots bombarded the capital allu Socialist Challenge 9 July 1981 - Page 12 Poverty is the lot of Guatemalan peasants other cities. Militarily, the Castillo Armas invasion would have been a fiasco had it not been for the CIA's aerial operations.
Arbenz wavered and then resigned, turning the government over loyal' military officers. US Ambassador John Peurifoy refused to accept Arbenz's replacements. and insisted on the installation of Castillo Armas. the CIA's chosen bberator On Julv 1954. Castillo Armas entered Guatemala City on Peunfoy s US Embassy plane.
Arbenz had relied on his military colleagues rather than on the masses to protect ine revolution. Ine government proved unable to defend the conquests or ine masses 1l lle iace ol the imperialist onslaught. It became demoralised bv the lack of support from the military, and the prospect of deep-going civil war between conten ding social classes.
Armas proceeded to l quidate the revolution. By conservative estimates 9,000 political and labour leaders were jailed or tortured, the special laincis being.