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Artist: Emidio Vasquez Photo: Sal Rojas
Ernesto Guevara was born in 1928 and lived in Alta Gracia
in Argentina. At an early age he started to read the works of Marx,
Engels, and Freud. After a series of political crisis in Argentina
which lead to a 'Left Fascist' dictatorship of Juan Peron. This event
lead Ernesto to develop a hatred of military politicians, capitalist
society, and especially for the United States and their imperialism.
At that time he did not take part in the revolutionary student
movement. He went to Guatemala, making a living writing about Maya and
Inca ruins. In Guatemala he saw the CIA as the instigators of
counterrevolution, this confirmed his belief that revolution could only
happen by armed insurrection. He then went to Mexico City in 1954,
there he met Fidel and Raul Castro. Guevara saw in Fidel Castro the
leader he was looking for.
After joining Fidel Castro, Ernesto Guevara transformed to Che which
is Argentine for "buddy." They then prepared to go to war against
Fulgencio Batista. Che was the most aggressive and successful of
Fidel's guerrilla officers. Che was well disciplined and was willing
to die for the cause. After the success of their Revolution, Che
became second only to Castro in the new government of Cuba. Che
was the man responsible for influencing Castro towards communism.
After the Revolution, Che tried to be an exemplary minister and
was appointed President of the National Bank of Cuba. Che always
felt his calling was revolutions. His first two attempts,
in Argentina and the Congo, were anything but successful. Che had
to advise Castro to withdraw Cuban aid. In 1966 Che set out for
Bolivia. He thought he could spread unrest from there.
His allies were weak and divided. Che was reported to have been
captured and executed by CIA-trained unit of the Bolivian government
on Oct. 9,1967.
The last chapter of Che's life has finally been written. Nearly 30 years
after his assassination his bones have been found. A team of
Cuban and Argentine scientist found his bones in the remote town
of Vallegrande in the Bolivian mountains. His skeleton was missing
both hands. After his execution, Che's hand were cut off and
preserved for evidence that Che was really dead. Che's legend
will always live.
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