Colombia: Death of FARC-held hostages - timeline
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Timeline
- April 2007. Government peace commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo announces that the government has agreed to a “temporary” and “experimental” ceasefire with the leftist National Liberation Army (ELN); the leftist Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) releases video footage of legislators from the province of Cali who had been kidnapped by rebels in April 2002.
- February 2007. Fernando Araujo, a former minister of economic development and former FARC hostage, is appointed as foreign minister.
- January 2007. Fernando Araujo, a former minister of economic development who had been held hostage since 2000 by FARC rebels, escapes from his captors during a rescue operation staged by the army.
- November 2006. The US judge presiding over the trial on kidnapping charges of Ricardo Palmera (also know as Simón Trinidad), a senior FARC commander, declares a mistrial after jurors fail to agree on a verdict; FARC urges US citizens to apply pressure on the US government to support rebel attempts to reach an agreement with President Alvaro Uribe Velez over a humanitarian exchange of rebel-held hostages for government-held rebel prisoners.
- May 2006. President Uribe, the candidate of Colombia First (PC), wins an historic second term in office in presidential elections.
- April 2006. Government peace commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo says that all of the United Self Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC)'s 30,140 members have now demobilised under the terms of the Santa Fe de Ralito (demilitarisation) agreement; FARC rebels are blamed for the death of two children after bombs explode on two buses travelling through Bogota (the capital).
- February 2006. President Uribe orders the Colombian airforce to carry out attacks on suspected positions of FARC rebels, near the Sierra Macarena National Park.
- November 2005. The AUC agrees to resume its demobilisation after talks between its leading commanders and government officials at Santa Fe de Ralito in northern Colombia.
- April 2005. FARC rebels stage a series of attacks in and around the village of Toribio, resulting in the deaths of at least three government troops, three police officers, and one civilian.
- December 2004. Ricardo Palmera (also know as Simón Trinidad), a senior FARC commander, is extradited to the USA to face charges of drug trafficking and association with terrorism.
- July 2003. President Uribe reaches an accord–known as the Santa Fe de Ralito agreement–with the leadership of the AUC, under which elements of the paramilitary organisation agree to a phased demilitarisation to be completed by the end of 2005; the Foreign Minister of France, Dominique de Villepin, faces a barrage of criticism in France over his handling of a secret mission to try to free Ingrid Betancourt from FARC guerrillas.
- May 2003. During the course of an attempted rescue raid mounted by Colombian army special forces, 10 hostages are executed by FARC rebels.
- September 2002. President Uribe introduces by decree measures intended to suppress the activities of guerrilla insurgents.
- May 2002. Alvaro Uribe Velez, a dissident member of the opposition Liberal Party (PL) and standing as the candidate of the right-wing Colombia First movement, is elected as president.
- February 2002. President Andrés Pastrana Arango unexpectedly orders the military to expel FARC rebels from a controversial 42,000 sq. km demilitarised zone in the southern departments of Meta and Caquetá granted to FARC in 1998 in an attempt to underpin peace negotiations.
- October 2001. President Pastrana Arango extends the life of a controversial 42,000-sq. km demilitarised zone in southern Colombia that had been granted to FARC in 1998 in an attempt to underpin peace negotiations.
- September 2001. Gen. (retd) Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State, announces that the US government has decided to classify the AUC, a right-wing paramilitary organisation with unofficial links to Colombian police and armed forces personnel, as an international terrorist organisation.
- June 2001. In accordance with agreements made at Los Pozos with government negotiators in February FARC releases more than 260 hostages, whilst the government releases 15 FARC prisoners.
- December 2000. It is reported that in excess of 80 people were believed to have been killed by AUC paramilitaries in late November in the small fishing town of Nueva Venecia on the northern Caribbean coast of Colombia.
- January 2000. US President Bill Clinton announces a proposed two-year US$1.6 billion aid package for Colombia, designed chiefly to help the government's war against illegal drugs.
- July 1999. Peace talks between the government and FARC are postponed indefinitely.
- January 1999. President Pastrana Arango opens preliminary peace talks with FARC commanders in San Vicente del Caguán, marking the first time that a sitting president has met with FARC leaders.
- November 1998. FARC rebels launch an attack on a counter-narcotics centre in the city of Mitú, in the department of Vaupés, in which reportedly around 60 people die.
- December 1997. At least 10 soldiers are killed and 18 taken hostage when some 300 FARC rebels ambush a remote southern army camp.
- August 1996. According to official figures more than 100 people are killed as FARC and the leftist National Liberation Army (ELN) launch attacks in cities and towns and on police and military installations in 14 of the country's 32 departments as well as in Bogota.
- May 1995. The government vows to demilitarise the north-eastern La Uribe region by withdrawing troops to the municipal capital in order to facilitate initial peace contacts with FARC leaders.
- June 1994. Ernesto Samper Pizano, the candiate of the ruling Liberal Party (PL), is elected president in a second round run-off vote.
- April 1993. The government announce the doubling to 60 years of prison sentences for anyone committing acts of terrorism which cause injury or death.
- September 1992. In two separate attacks attributed to FARC and ELN rebels near the respective towns of Villavicencio and Santander 14 police officers are killed and five others are wounded.
- March 1991. At least 23 FARC rebels and 11 members of the security forces are killed in heavy fighting in the south-western town of Paispamba.
- January 1991. Jorge Luis Ochoa, a senior member of the Medellin drug cartel, surrenders to the authorities after the government in 1990 gave assurances that drug traffickers who gave themselves up would not be extradited to the USA.
- August 1989. President Virgilio Barco announces sweeping emergency measures in the government’s fight against the Medellin and Cali drug cartels.
- November 1988. Right-wing paramilitary groups accept responsibility for a series of murders of farmers, trade union leaders, and drug dealers.
- May 1986. Virgilio Barco Vargas, the PL candidate, is elected president.
- November 1985. The security forces use mortars and grenades to end a 27-hour siege of the Palace of Justice in Bogota by members of the M-19 left-wing guerrilla organisation.
- August 1985. Official statistics are published suggesting that 605 guerrillas, 272 peasants, 72 soldiers, and 168 policemen were killed in Colombia between July 28, 1984, and July 17, 1985.
- April 1984. Justice Minister Rodrigo Lara Bonilla is assassinated in Bogota, a murder widely regarded to be connected to the minister’s campaign to curb drug trafficking.
- March 1984. The government announces that it has reached an agreement with FARC leaders on a ceasefire in exchange for the demilitarisation of rural areas and allowing the rebel group to “organise politically, economically and socially”.
- January 1984. FARC rebels attack a military base in Cero Grande, in the department of Antioquia, killing 14 of the 19 soldiers stationed at the base.
- October 1983. Peace talks between government officials and left-wing rebels fail to yield any breakthroughs.
- June 1983. It is announced that the M-19 left-wing guerrilla organisation and FARC will instigate joint armed actions against the government.
- March 1983. FARC officials announce that its rebels are holding 56 people as hostages.
- November 1982. A new law offering amnesty from prosecution to rebels charged with sedition, rebellion, and conspiracy come into effect, prompting some left-wing guerrillas to lay down their arms.
- March 1982. The Death to Kidnappers (MAS) group, the first of several right-wing paramilitary organisations formed to fight against left-wing rebels, emerges.
- May 1982. Belisano Betancur Cuartas, the Conservative Party (CP) candidate, is elected president.
- March 1981. The Senate (the upper house of the bicameral legislature) approves a limited amnesty bill for guerrillas who demobilise within four months.
- October 1980. Defence Minister Gen. Camacho Leyva says that 128 members of the security forces and 417 farmers have been killed by left-wing guerrillas in the past three years.
- April 1980. A two-month siege of the Dominican Republic embassy in Bogota by 16 members of the left-wing M-19 ends without bloodshed when the rebels are flown to Cuba with 12 remaining diplomatic hostages.
- August-September 1978. The M-19 “declares war” on the government and more than 40 people are killed during a wave of attacks and kidnappings by left-wing rebels.
- June 1978. Julio César Turbay Ayala is elected president.
- May-June 1978. Left-wing guerrilla organisations are thought to be responsible for a series of bombings in Bogota and for a series of kidnappings.
- September 1977. It is reported that 18 people are killed, many others are injured, and up to 4,000 arrested in clashes between protesters and the security forces.
- August 1977. Hugo Ferreira Neira, a former agriculture minister, is kidnapped by the M-19 guerrilla organisation.
- March 1976. Octavio Echevarria, a prominent industrialist who was kidnapped by FARC rebels, is found dead.
- September 1975. Rebels from the leftist ELN assassinate a senior military officer.
- June 1975. The army launches a major military operation against the leftist ELN after its guerrillas ambush an army patrol, killing six soldiers.
- June 1975. President Alfonso Lopez Michelsen declares a state of siege after several weeks of social unrest, a resurgence of guerrilla activity, and a series of kidnappings.
- April 1974. Alfonso Lopez Michelsen, the candidate of the PL, is elected as president in succession to President Misael Pastrana Borrero.
- August 1970. Pastrana Borrero is inaugurated as president.
- August 1966. FARC is established; Carlos Lleras Restrepo is inaugurated as president.
- September-December 1948. Unofficial estimates suggest that at least 2,000 people have been killed during political violence following the PL's withdrawal from the cabinet in May.
- April 1948. Martial law and strict censorship measures are introduced after a violent revolt erupts in Bogota in protest against the assassination of a prominent PL politician.
- May 1946. The Conservative Party (CP) is returned to power when its candidate Mariano Ospina Perez is elected as president to replace Alberto Camargo.
- July 1945. President Alfonso Lopez resigns and is replaced by Alberto Camargo.
- July 1944. An attempted military coup led by Lt-Col Diogenes Gil fails to overthrow the government.
- November 1943. The government declares war on Nazi Germany after the sinking of a Colombian steamer vessel by a German U-boat.
- May 1942. Alfonso Lopez, the candidate of the PL, is elected as president to succeed Don Eduardo Santos.
- May 1938. Don Eduardo Santos, the candidate of PL, is elected unopposed to the presidency.
