El Caguán DMZ
Encyclopedia
El Caguán DMZ was a demilitarized zone
of 42,000 km² in southern Colombia
authorized by the government of President Andrés Pastrana
to negotiate a peace process with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
(FARC-EP).
On October 8, 1998, then presidential candidate Andrés Pastrana agreed with FARC commanders to create a demilitarized zone
in the region of El Caguán river basin, a jungle region in south central Colombia made up by the municipalities of Vista Hermosa
, La Macarena
, La Uribe
and Mesetas
in Meta Department
, and San Vicente del Caguán
in Caquetá Department to negotiate a possible peace process.
Demilitarized zone
In military terms, a demilitarized zone is an area, usually the frontier or boundary between two or more military powers , where military activity is not permitted, usually by peace treaty, armistice, or other bilateral or multilateral agreement...
of 42,000 km² in southern Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
authorized by the government of President Andrés Pastrana
Andrés Pastrana Arango
Andrés Pastrana Arango was the President of Colombia from 1998 to 2002, following in the footsteps of his father, Misael Pastrana, who was president from 1970 to 1974.-Early years:...
to negotiate a peace process with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People's Army is a Marxist–Leninist revolutionary guerrilla organization based in Colombia which is involved in the ongoing Colombian armed conflict, currently involved in drug dealing and crimes against the civilians..FARC-EP is a peasant army which...
(FARC-EP).
On October 8, 1998, then presidential candidate Andrés Pastrana agreed with FARC commanders to create a demilitarized zone
Demilitarized zone
In military terms, a demilitarized zone is an area, usually the frontier or boundary between two or more military powers , where military activity is not permitted, usually by peace treaty, armistice, or other bilateral or multilateral agreement...
in the region of El Caguán river basin, a jungle region in south central Colombia made up by the municipalities of Vista Hermosa
Vista Hermosa, Meta
Vista Hermosa is a town and municipality in the Meta Department, Colombia....
, La Macarena
La Macarena, Meta
La Macarena is a town and municipality in the Meta Department, located about 280 km south of Bogotá, Colombia.The town was included in the former El Caguan DMZ...
, La Uribe
La Uribe
La Uribe is a town and municipality in the Meta Department, Colombia....
and Mesetas
Mesetas
Mesetas is a town and municipality in the Meta Department, Colombia....
in Meta Department
Meta Department
Meta is a department of Colombia. It is close to the geographic center of the country, to the east of the Andean mountains. A large portion of the department, which is also crossed by the Meta River, is covered by a grassland plain known as the Llanos. Its capital is Villavicencio...
, and San Vicente del Caguán
San Vicente del Caguán
San Vicente del Caguán is a town and municipality in Caquetá Department, Colombia.Between 1998 and 2002, San Vicente del Caguán was the center of the demilitarized zone , which was created as a safe haven for the FARC. Two days after the peace talks were ended, Ingrid Betancourt was kidnapped while...
in Caquetá Department to negotiate a possible peace process.