Last night, the President of the Republic, Colonel Carlos Castillo Armas, was assassinated in a treacherous and cunning manner by soldier Romeo Vásquez Sánchez, a communist militant, as established by documents that were found in the Presidential House.
The crime was perpetrated by Vásquez Sánchez when President Castillo Armas, without being able to sense the tragedy that was approaching, was going with his wife to the dining room. Vásquez Sánchez, with all the cold blood of someone who, undoubtedly, premeditated his crime for a long time, when the husband and wife approached, presented weapons in a feigned attitude of respect and at that moment, he raised the 7 millimeter carbine he was carrying in his face and fired four shots at the body of Colonel Castillo Armas, who according to the data collected died instantly.
sworn successor
The first person appointed to the Presidency of the Republic, Mr. Luis Arturo González, was called to exercise it by decree 1191 of the National Congress.
A state of siege was declared for 30 days throughout the country and a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Gatherings of more than four people are prohibited.
The body of Colonel Castillo Armas will be laid to rest from 10 a.m. on July 27 in the Reception Hall of the National Palace.
About the vigil
The body of the former president of Guatemala has been visited by thousands of people from different social sectors of the country, who have wanted to see for the last time the face of Colonel Castillo Armas, who lies wearing his military uniform, the decorations he had, a crucifix and the presidential sash crossed over his chest.
Nine days of national mourning were decreed, starting yesterday, with suspension of work in all public offices and it is established that the body of Colonel Castillo Armas will remain in a burning chapel in the Reception Hall of the National Palace, during July 27, 28 and 29.
write the story
This note is part of the commemorative series of our diamond wedding, it is a journey through news that marked the history of Guatemala, with original texts and images from each era, as a reliable testimony of our mission of service.
*Synthesis prepared with texts from notes from numbers 1,862, 1,863 and 1,864 of Prensa Libre.