Central Intelligence Agency. “Selection of Individuals for Disposal by Junta Group.” In CIA and Assassinations: The Guatemala 1954 Documents.” Accessed May 2, 2021. https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB4/index.html.
This short document is a set of criteria for determining if any given individuals should be on the kill lists provided to CIA agents and coup backers before the 1954 coup against president Jacobo Arbenz in Guatemala. During the coup, lists like this one were used as guides to kill communists and those to be considered communist sympathizers by the coup’s supporters. There was a list of names attached to the original document, but the CIA redacted this portion from the public release.
The criteria for those who would be killed in the coup (as you can see below) was that they should fall into one of three groups: open communists, those who had some evidence of being communist sympathizers, and members of the government who needed to be killed for the coup to succeed. The document says that whoever it had been provided to (most likely a CIA field officer) was able to add and remove names from the list, but that they should exercise caution and heed the criteria.
“Consideration for inclusion in the final list should positively establish that the individual falls into one or more of the following groups:
- High government and organizational leaders whose outward position has not disclosed the fact that they are motivated and directed by the Comintern and who are irrevocably implicated in Communist doctrine and policy.
- Out-and-out proven Communist leaders whose removal from the political scene is required for the immediate and future success of the new government.
- Those few individuals in key government and military positions of tactical importance who removal for psychological, organizational or other reasons is mandatory for the success of military action.”