Overview

Overview : The Republic of Colombia was formally established in 1855. Over the next 100 years, Colombian politics were dominated by the Conservative-Liberal feud, which often broke out into warfare. Periods of democratic government alternated with dictatorships. There were occasions, however, when the two parties were able to unite to see off a common threat. The 1970 election was a turning point in Colombia's recent history. Disaffected members of ANAPO (Alianza Nacional Popular) formed a guerrilla movement known as Movimiento 19 de Abril (M-19), which initiated a 15-year-long guerrilla campaign against the government and acquired other left-wing groups.

Meanwhile, a third potent force emerged during the 1980s, in the form of organised drug traffickers (known as cartels). Large sums of money began to be turned into political power and leading politicians increasingly became tainted by connections with drug money. By 1998, the country was in the grip of the struggle between the government, traffickers, right-wing paramilitaries and left-wing guerrillas. Leftist guerrillas created 'liberated areas', within which government forces were unable or unwilling to operate. The US administration became infuriated and, in 2000, the US Clinton administration unveiled 'Plan Colombia', a massive military support programme for the Colombian armed forces.

Although portrayed as the latest phase of the 'war on drugs', it is clear that the programme is essentially political and strategic ? the objective is to destroy FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) and its allies. The Bush administration inherited 'Plan Colombia' after victory at the US November 2000 poll and endorsed the plan with some modifications. Its first effects became apparent the following year, when military forces retook part of the former 'liberated zone'. The new hard line adopted by the government was confirmed in May 2002, when the right-winger Alvaro Uribe, who favours all-out war against the left-wing guerrillas, won a comfortable victory at the presidential election. Uribe immediately declared a partial state of emergency, allowing him to impose security measures by decree. In early 2003, American special forces troops became directly engaged for the first time in the eastern province of Arauca.

Yet what has endured in the midst of such ever-changing, violent proceedings is a calm and beautiful landscape that has much to offer, from nature (much is covered by the Amazon Basin; large lakes are surrounded by mountains; a Caribbean coastline twinkles with azure water) to man-made wonders (archaeological digs unearth historical wealth; colonial houses adorn the towns; the Guajira Peninsula is home to more than 100,000 nomadic Indians). There must be hope that the political climate becomes just as clement very soon. 

    

      

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Important Cities in Colombia