Belisario Betancur

Biographic data

Betancur was born in the vicinity of "el Morro de la Paila", of the town of Amagá, Antioquia. His father, Rosendo Betancur, was a blue-collar worker at the textile company Coltejer, a job that he obtained after having spent most of his life transporting goods by mule through the mountains of Antioquia. His mother, Ana Otilia Cuartas, had a small shop in Amagá. She died in 1950.

Early life

Betancur started his education in the public school of Amagá. He later transferred to the seminary "Misiones de Yarumal", where he studied for the priesthood. He was dismissed from the seminary for disciplinary matters. Betancur then traveled to the city of Medellín, where he enrolled in the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana. There, he excelled in his studies and obtained exceptional grades. Upon completing his high-school education, the Headmaster of the school, Monsignor Manuel José Sierra, granted him a scholarship to complete his higher education. In 1955, Betancur graduated in jurisprudence and obtained a Law and Economics degree.

Political career

He began his political career as a Deputy to the Assembly of the Colombian province of Antioquia, where he served from 1945 to 1947. He also served as a Representative to the National Chamber for the departments of Cundinamarca and Antioquia, and was a member of the National Constituent Assembly from 1953 to 1957.

Betancur was the Minister of Labor in 1963 and Ambassador of Colombia to Spain from 1975 to 1977.

He ran for president as an independent Conservative candidate in the election of 1970, coming in third. He again ran as the official Conservative candidate in the election of 1978, but was defeated by Julio César Turbay Ayala.

Presidency

He was finally elected President in 1982 and served until 1986. As President, he began the Grupo de Contadora por la Paz en Centroamérica, 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.

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. 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.

Betancur is also noted for his attempts to bring peace to his country. During his administration he initiated peace talks with several Colombian guerilla groups. The controversial Palace of Justice siege occurred in late 1985, less than a year before the end of his presidential term.

He was President during the 1985 eruption of Nevado Del Ruiz. The disaster killed over 20,000 people.

Post-Presidency

Betancur is currently an Honorary Member of the Club of Rome for Latin America, Chairman of the Truth Commission for El Salvador, President of the Pan American Health Organization in Washington, and President of the Santillana for Latin America Foundation in Bogotá. He is also a founding member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.

Honours

Betancur is the recipient of an honorary doctorate from the Universities of Colorado and Georgetown, and the Prince of Asturias Peace Award (Spain). He is the author of numerous books and a member of the Colombian Academies of History, Jurisprudence and Language.

Popular culture

Betancur is portrayed by the actor Jaime Barbini as the character of Silvio De la Cruz in TV Series Escobar, el patrón del mal. Betancur is mentioned in a song by the Spanish pop band "Un Pinguino en mi Ascensor" titled "El Sendero Luminoso (me persigue sin reposo)", in the verse "el procónsul honorario / está reunido con Belisario" (the honorary proconsul / is in a meeting with Belisario).

Works