8 May 2023
Gary Prado is more than just the capture of Che
I apologize to my kind readers if today I comment on something that touches me closely but that I think is of interest to the whole country: General Gary Prado Salmon has left us, a remarkable and multifaceted character, outstanding in many activities beyond his military career.
Gary Prado is known for having been the officer who captured Che Guevara and turned him over to authorities. Without a doubt, it was a military action of national and international relevance, but Gary Prado’s figure goes far beyond that military action.
Gary Prado was also a valuable intellectual, researcher, historian, politician, diplomat, role model, and renowned university professor.
His intellectual production includes a book on the history of the Armed Forces and another on the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement (MNR) and the Armed Forces.
His work on guerrilla warfare called “The Immolated Guerrilla,” published in many languages and in several countries, is the best text on Che’s guerrilla warfare. Another very important work is the account of President Siles’ kidnapping, a subject unknown to many. He was preparing his autobiography, which unfortunately will remain incomplete.
Gary Prado was part of that group of young institutionalist officers who in 1974 demanded immediate national elections from the military power. The Government accepted the proposal, but within a few hours, the main leaders, including him, were either imprisoned or exiled.
The opportunity presented itself again in 1978 when the young institutionalists with General Padilla installed a new government with the sole objective of calling elections in six months, and so it was, a unique case of clean elections without an official candidate.
Gary Prado was the Minister of Planning in that Government and from that position supported and promoted the creation of the Development Corporation in Santa Cruz, handing over the leadership of the process to the group of young professionals who were already working on the issue with a specialized consulting firm. It was the team that, led by Oscar Serrate, consolidated the Santa Cruz development model from the public sector, with broad participation of civil society. It is within this framework of collaboration with the Ministry of Planning that the construction of Viru Viru Airport was consolidated.
Gary Prado placed himself politically in the center, away from all kinds of extremism.
As Commander of the Eighth Army Division, he calmed the region with his negotiating and conciliatory skills, rather than using force. He was the guarantee for peaceful coexistence, intervening in conflicts always with great intelligence and knowledge of the issues. His word had credibility.
Being an impeccable career military man, he had to endure ten years of a process of terrorism with which he had nothing to do. Why was he included? According to some sources, it was an imposition of Cuba, but also because the crude scheme invented needed a person with military and strategic capabilities to be credible, and he fitted that profile. But, as expected, that trial could not even stand for ten years.
It is worth noting the significant support that Gary had during these ten years: that of his son Gary, who, as a lawyer with great ability, defended him and several other accused who did not have resources, and that of his wife Maria del Carmen, who accompanied him with great love and supported him with the ferocity of a lioness. The constant presence of journalist Harold Olmos should also be noted, who later published a meticulous and precise book of over 500 pages about the trial, denouncing the arbitrariness.
He was a highly appreciated professor by Private Technological University of Santa Cruz de la Sierra (UTEPSA) students because, with his enormous capacity and culture, he opened the eyes of young people to the complexity of the world in which we live.
Finally, he was president of the Cedure board, always accompanying our activities.
I want to conclude this comment with a phrase that a friend sent me, which summarizes some of my feelings toward him: “The general was a beloved and admired man.” A great achievement in life.
Source: https://eldeber.com.bo/edicion-impresa/gary-prado-es-mas-que-la-captura-del-che_324313
