[1] Colom became involved in national campaigns for democracy and against the dictatorships during his studies and in 1955 was one of 33 citizens to publicly oppose the plebiscite aimed at confirming Carlos Castillo in power.

The Presidency was won by General Carlos Arana with Dr. Adolfo Mijangos López elected deputy for the Central District.

In 1973 he fought to have FURD – the Frente Unido Revolucionario Democrático – approved by the electoral commission so that it could fight the 1974 general election.

In 1976, Colom returned and once again tried to form and register a political party – the Frente Unido de la Revolución (FUR).

This assassination, under the military-dominated and repressive regime of General Fernando Romeo Lucas (President 1978–1982), was one of several, including Social Democrat Party founder Alberto Fuentes Mohr.

On 22 March 2009 the Government of Guatemala granted to Manuel Colom Argueta, post mortem, the Order of the Quetzal in the grade of the Grand Cross, as part of the 30th anniversary of his murder.