Hosta

by | Mar 16, 2018 | Hosta

How Can We Help?
You are here:
< Back

The 1957 Colombian coup d'état was the nonviolent overthrow in Colombia of the Gustavo Rojas Pinilla dictatorship by the military, resulting in the establishment of a five-man junta that restored civilian rule a year later in 1958. The coup attempt followed a period of civil unrest as Rojas, coming to power in 1953 promising to end the La Violencia and initially hailed as Colombia's savior,[1][2] caused political discontent with his authoritarian policies, including silencing of the free press, detainment of opposition groups, and suspension of the country's constitution.[3][4]

In the lead-up to the coup, the leader of the opposition Guillermo Leon Valencia was placed under house arrest on May 1, causing widespread civil disobedience.[4] Dubbed the "Jornadas de Mayo," the 10-day period was marked by nationwide student protests and the impromptu shutdown of universities, newspapers, shops, factories, businesses, and banks.[1] The ensuing student demonstrations resulted in one hundred dead, with tear gas and jets of red-colored-water being used on the demonstrators.[1] In response, an Archbishop in Cali threatened to excommunicate those responsible for the killings.[4]

Recognizing the growing unrest, several military leaders held a meeting and agreed on the need to depose Rojas.[4] In the early hours of the morning on May 10, Rojas was pressured to step down, a junta taking his place soon after.[4] He then departed with his family for Spain.[1]

The five-man military junta, composed of those who had previously served under the Rojas regime, - Gabriel París, Deogracias Fonseca, Ruben Piedrahita, Rafael Navas Pardo, and Luis Ordonez - announced their intentions for the restoration of civilian rule by August 7, 1958, through elections and other measures.[1] During this period of military rule, a largely civilian and bi-partisan cabinet was appointed with the approval of the major parties.[1] The "Parity Commission on Institutional Readjustment" was also formed to study constitutional reform along with a two-man bi-partisan "National Commission on Criminal Investigation" to investigate corruption and malpractice.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "POLITICAL SUMMARY AND ASSESSMENT. Background: The Rojas Regime and Its Fall".
  2. ^ Turel, Adam (2013-03-20). "Colombia's 'La Violencia' and How it Shaped the Country's Political System". E-International Relations. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  3. ^ Freixes, Josep (2023-08-01). "Rojas Pinilla (1953-1957), the Agreed Dictatorship, 70 Years Later". Colombia One: News from Colombia and the World. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Colombians overthrow dictator, 1957 | Global Nonviolent Action Database". nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
Categories
Table of Contents