Belisario Betancur

Belisario Betancur Cuartas (4 February 1923 – 7

December 2018) was a Colombian politician who served Belisario Betancur Cuartas
as the 26th President of Colombia from 1982 to 1986. He
was a member of the Colombian Conservative Party. His
presidency was noted for its attempted peace talks with
several Colombian guerilla groups. He was also one of the
few presidents to abstain from participating in politics
after leaving office.

Contents
Early life
Political career
Presidency
Post-Presidency
Personal life
Death Betancur in 2009

Honours 26th President of Colombia

In office
References
7 August 1982 – 7 August 1986
External links
Preceded by Julio César Turbay Ayala
Succeeded by Virgilio Barco Vargas
Early life Ambassador of Colombia to Spain
In office
Betancur was born in the Morro de la Paila district of the 16 December 1975 – January 1977
town of Amagá, Antioquia, in 1923.[1][2] His parents were
President Alfonso López Michelsen
Rosendo Betancur, a blue-collar worker, and Ana Otilia
Cuartas, a businesswoman.[2] Betancur's mother died in Preceded by Álvaro Lloreda Caicedo
1950.[3] Succeeded by Samuel Hoyos Arango
Minister of Labour of Colombia
Betancur traveled to the city of Medellín, where he
enrolled in the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana.[3] In In office
1955, Betancur graduated in jurisprudence and obtained a 7 August 1962 – 23 April 1963
degree in law and economics.[3] President Guillermo León Valencia
Preceded by Juan Benavides Patron
Political career Succeeded by Castor Jaramillo Arrubla
Personal details
Betancur began his political career as a deputy in
the Antioquia Departmental Assembly, where he served Born 4 February 1923
from 1945 to 1947.[4] He served as a Representative to the Amagá, Antioquia,
National Chamber for the departments Colombia
of Cundinamarcaand Antioquia, and was a member of the Died 7 December
National Constituent Assembly from 1953 to 1957.[5] 2018(aged 95)
Betancur was the Minister of Labor in 1963 and Bogotá, Colombia
Ambassador to Spain from 1975 to 1977.[5] Nationality Colombian
Political party Conservative
He ran for president as an independent Conservative Spouse(s) Rosa Helena Álvarez
candidate in the election of 1970, coming in third.[6] He Yepes
again ran as the official Conservative candidate in (m. 1946; died 1998)
the election of 1978, but was defeated by Julio César Dalita Rafaela Navarro
Turbay Ayala.[6] Palmar
(m. 2000; his death 2018)
Children Three; including Diego
Presidency
Alma mater Pontifical Bolivarian
Betancur was finally elected President in 1982 and served University (JD)
until 1986.[6] As President, he helped found Profession Lawyer
the Contadora Group to bring about peace in Central
America, began democratic reforms by incorporating the principal armed movements into civil life,
promoted low-cost housing and open universities, began a literacy campaign and endorsed tax
amnesty.[7]

During his term, the government approved the mayoral election law, municipal and departmental
reforms, judicial and congressional reforms, the television statute, the national holiday law, and the
new Código Contencioso Administrativo.[8][9] His administration began the exploration and export
of coal in the Cerrejón North region and the broadcast of the regional television channels
Teleantioquia and Telecaribe.[10]

Betancur was also noted for his

COLOMBIA'S FOUR FAILED PEACE TALKS[11]
attempts to bring peace to his
Year President Ended because
country.[12] During his
Most Supreme Court Justices
administration he initiated were killed when M-19
1982–1985 Belisario Betancur
peace talks with several commandos and the Army
Colombian guerilla fought for control of the building
groups. [13] The FARC ambush killed 26 soldiers
1986–1990 Virgilio Barco Vargas
in Caquetá
controversial Palace of Justice
FARC attack on the Senate
siege occurred in late 1985, less 1990–1992 César Gaviria Trujillo President. FARC kidnapping and
than a year before the end of killing of an ex-cabinet member.
his presidential term.[14] 1998–2002 Andrés Pastrana Arango FARC kidnapping of Senator

He was President during the 1985 eruption of Nevado del Ruiz, which killed over 20,000 people.[15]

Post-Presidency

Betancur retired from politics after he left office in 1986.[16]

Betancur was an Honorary Member of the Club of Rome for Latin America,[17] Chairman of
the Truth Commission for El Salvador,[18] and President of the Santillana for Latin America
Foundation in Bogotá.[5] He also was a founding member of the Pontifical Academy of Social
Sciences.[5]

Personal life
In 1946, Betancur married Rosa Helena Álvarez Yepes.[19] Together, they had three children
including diplomat Diego Betancur Álvarez.[20] Álvarez Yepes died in 1998.[19] In October 2000,
Betancur married Dalia Rafaela Navarro Palmar.[21]

Death
On 6 December 2018, Betancur was hospitalized in Bogotá in a critical condition, suffering from a
kidney infection.[22][23] Vice President Marta Lucía Ramírez prematurely announced his death
on Twitter, but later retracted her statement.[24][25] Betancur died the following day from the
illness, aged 95.[26][27]

Before his death, Betancur said he did not wish to have a state funeral and expressed interest in
being buried at Jardines del Recuerdo Cemetery in Bogotá.[28] On 8 December, his funeral was
held with President Iván Duque Márquez and former Presidents Juan Manuel Santos and César
Gaviria in attendance.[29][30] He was buried at Jardines del Recuerdo Cemetery later that day
following a mass at Gimnasio Moderno in Bogotá.[31][30]

Honours
Betancur was the recipient of honorary doctorates from the University of Colorado and Georgetown
University.[32][33] He received the Prince of Asturias Peace Award of Spain in 1983.[34]

References
1. Sabsay, Fernando Leónidas (2006). Profile of Belisario Betancur Cuartas.
p. 309. ISBN 9789500263955. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
2. "Belisario Betancur Cuartas (1982-1986)". Office of the President. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
3. Arismendi Posada, Ignacio; Gobernantes Colombianos; trans. Colombian
Pryhjtyjyhfnpfjesidents; Interprint Editors Ltd., Italgraf, Segunda Edición; Page 255; Bogotá,
Colombia; 1983
4. "Biography of Belisario Betancur (1923-VVVV)". The Biography.us.
Retrieved 6 December 2018.
5. "Belisario Betancur". Pass.va. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
6. "Belisario Betancur Cuartas: President-elect of Colombia". UPI. 1 June 1992.
Retrieved 6 December 2018.
7. "Colombia president begins reorganization". UPI. 2 August 1983. Retrieved 6 December2018.
8. "Lessons of the Colombian Constitutional Reform of 1991" (PDF).
Retrieved 6 December 2018.
9. "Belisario Betancur Cuartas" (in Spanish). Colombia.com. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
10. "Television en Colombia" (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 December 2018.
11. "Why did the Colombia Peace Process Fail?" (PDF). The Tabula Rasa Institute. Archived
from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2006. [PDF file]
12. "History of peace talks with Colombia's ELN guerrillas". Colombia Reports.
Retrieved 6 December 2018.
13. "Colombia's half-century of conflict that led to historic peace deal". The Guardian.
Retrieved 6 December2018.
14. "33 years ago, rebels allegedly backed by Pablo Escobar stormed Colombia's Palace of Justice
— here's how the terrifying siege went down". Business Insider. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
15. "Colombia Reports a Suspension of Rescue Efforts". The New York Times. 18 November 1985.
16. "Former Colombian President Belisario Betancur dies". Teller Report. Archived from the
original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
17. "Honorary Member | THE CLUB OF ROME (www.clubofrome.org)". www.clubofrome.org.
Archived from the original on 2015-09-29. Retrieved 2015-09-28.
18. "Truth Commission: El Salvador". USIP. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
19. "MURIÓ ROSA HELENA ALVAREZ DE BETANCUR". El Tiempo. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
20. "HIJO DE TIGRE SALE... ROJO". Semana. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
21. "De Turbay, Belisario y otras movidas matrimoniales". El Espectador.
Retrieved 6 December 2018.
22. "Un tuit de la vicepresidenta de Colombia da por muerto a Belisario Betancur" (in Spanish). El
Pais. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
23. "Expresidente colombiano Belisario Betancur Cuartas continúa hospitalizado". El Colombian.
Retrieved 6 December 2018.
24. "Aclaración: desmienten rumor sobre la muerte de Belisario Betancur". El Colombia.
Retrieved 6 December 2018.
25. "Marta Lucía Ramírez on Twitter". Twitter. 6 December 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
26. "Confirmado: falleció el expresidente Belisario Betancur". RCN Radio. 7 December 2018.
Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
27. "Belisario Betancur, 95, Colombia President During Rebel Siege, Dies". The New York Times. 8
December 2018.
28. "¿Por qué el funeral de Belisario Betancur no será uno de Estado?". Conexion Capital.
Retrieved 9 December 2018.
29. "Personalidades de la política nacional se unen en acto fúnebre de Belisario Betancur".
Asuntos Legales. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
30. "El último adiós al expresidente Belisario Betancur". El Espectador.
Retrieved 9 December 2018.
31. "Sepelio de Belisario Betancur será en el cementerio Jardines del Recuerdo". LAFM.
Retrieved 9 December 2018.
32. "Honorary Degrees, University Medals and Distinguished Service Awards Full List A-
Z". University of Colorado. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
33. "Belisario Betancur" (in Spanish). UPV. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
34. "BELISARIO BETANCUR". FPA.es. Retrieved 6 December 2018.

External links
Biography by CIDOB Foundation
Betancur's page at the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences