SOURCE

Violence is a historic period of Colombia, between 1948 and 1960. It was characterized by the confrontation between the Liberal and Conservative, including murders, assaults, persecution, destruction of property and terrorism for political alignment. Some authors place this period until 1953. The trigger of the conflict was the assassination of Jorge Eliecer Gaitan, the presidential candidate of the liberals, April 9, 1948, in response to that incident occurred a series of protests and violence to known as Bogotazo. Some factors that contributed to the prolongation of the anti-violence were fears of the ruling class, economic deprivation of the popular sectors and a rigid party system that only allowed the participation of two political parties. In 1957, the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party formed a coalition called the National Front to end the violence. Through this agreement the two sides agreed to support a single presidential candidate and all charges were divided officers alike. Thus political stability was achieved for 16 years. An unexpected opposition was held by those parties that had not been involved in the deal, as the National Popular Alliance Anapo or organized by General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla deposed.