International Encyclopedia of Revolution and Protest

Extract

The Unión Patriótica (Patriotic Union, UP) was a Colombian political movement that emerged in the middle of the 1980s as a civil alternative to the political forces when peace negotiations under the government of Belisario Betancur took place. Since then PU leaders and militants have been targeted and over 5,000 have been murdered by army men, paramilitaries, and drug smugglers who were deeply involved with the right-wing political elite of the country. After unsuccessful peace agreements with the guerillas in 1957, these groups attained a significant presence in large zones of Colombia. In 1977 and 1982, two huge national protests occurred. This led to a determination on the part of the government to open new spaces for dialogue. In 1984 the Betancur administration agreed on an armistice with the FARC-EP (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejército del Pueblo) in order to implement the necessary measures for an urgent political debate. This explains why in 1985 the UP was founded, including militants from FARC, ELN (Ejército de Liberación Nacional) , and Autodefensa Obrera (Workers' Self-Defense). Meanwhile the government compromised by guaranteeing free speech for the leaders of these illegal movements and the option to participate as candidates in general elections. At the beginning the UP was the political expression of a widespread mass movement and its development ... log in or subscribe to read full text