Cold War Politics

Twenty years after the U.S. invaded Grenada, and the virtual extermination of Mayan Indians in a little town in guatemala, by a ruthless dictator known as General Genocida, cold war politics may once again decide the outcome of elections in both Countries.

It was 1983 when the former Grenada Socialist Leader Maurice Bishop was overthrown and murdered by hard line members of his party who wanted to create a cuban-style, Marxist system on the Grenadian people.

Instead it led to the U.S. sending in 6,000 marines, under the pretext of halting the spread of communism, and installing a puppet government to restore democracy. In the aftermath of the upheaval, seventeen people were convicted and sentenced to die or serve life-imprisonment.

As Grenadians prepare to go to the polls the one issue most people are talking about is the release of the 'Granada 17' and not about rising crime and unemployment. First time voters with no experience of the invasion seem inclined to give the 'Grenada 17' another chance of saving the country, and the political parties and playing to the whims of the voters. Both of the major parties are promising some form of release if elected and the voters are listening.

At around the same time, a ruthless Latin American dictator named General Efrain Rios Montt was responsible for the execution of thousands of Mayan men, women and children in Rabinal, a non-descript town in the highlands of Central Guatemala. It is estimated that between 1981 and 1983, about 5,000 people or twenty percent of the town's population disappeared and were never heard from again.

As a candidate for President, General Montt is running third in the polls and driving fear into the hearts of many across the country that believe any progress towards democracy would be curtailed. What is interesting is that many of the relatives of the victims of General "Genocida' now support him. They see him as a tough leader who can control the escalating crime situation, the worst in Latin America.

What we are witnessing here is quintessential cold war politics where politicians are playing on fear and ignorance to woo voters while avoiding important bread and butter issues that impact most people. this approach will alienate more educated voters, who are likely to become frustrated and seek greener pastures overseas. In the end, the country would be worse off.