Colombian Profile

General Background of the Location:

Full name: Republic of Colombia

Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama.

Border Countries: Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Peru

Area: 1.14 million sq km (440,831 sq miles)

Population: 46.9 million (UN, 2011)

Capital: Santafe deBogota D.C

Current President: Juan Manuel Santos

Major language: Spanish

Major religion: Christianity

Life expectancy: 70 years (men), 78 years (women) (UN)

Main exports: Petroleum, coffee, coal, gold, bananas, cut flowers, chemicals, emeralds, cotton products, sugar, livestock
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/co.html

Profile of ColombiaThe Republic of Colombia has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade turning the tide on a long running terrorist insurgency, making great strides in restoring security and stability to the population, and promoting crucial social investments to fight poverty. While considerable work remains to be done including continuing the fight against narcotics trafficking the nation isnow firmly on the path to peace and prosperity.

With over 45 million citizens, Colombia has the second largest population in South America, after Brazil, has the third largest Spanish-speaking population in the world, after Mexico and Spain. Colombia also has 32 administrative regions (called 'departments', plus the capital district of Bogotá, which is its own autonomous administrative region.The country has been blessed in so many ways, is situated on the northwestern coast of South America, Colombia is the size of Texas and California combined. It is the only country on the continent with coastline on both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. In between, is a nation of rich biodiversity, including the Amazon rain forest and the Andes Mountains. Is a country with modern cities,vast farmlands, diverse cultures and colonial charm, for all of the above Colombia is becoming a top center for Latin American business and an increasingly popular tourist destination.
http://www.colombiaemb.org/english/colombia-a-success-story-footer-168

Colombia Democracy

Colombia is Latin America's oldest and most stable democracy. The country has experienced peaceful changes ofgovernment every four years for more than a century, as citizens have elected government representatives in free and fair elections in a political environment that proudly supports full freedom of the press.
http://colombiaemb.org/english/colombia-a-success-story-mainmenu-94/economy-mainmenu-231

Rise of Rebel Groups M-19, ELN, FARC, and UAC

Marxist guerrilla groups organized in the 1960s and1970s, most notably the May 19th Movement (M-19), the National Liberation Army (ELN), and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), plunged the country into violence and instability. In the 1970s and 1980s, Colombia became one of the international centers for illegal drug production and trafficking, and at times the drug cartels (the Medillin and Cali cartels were the most notorious)virtually controlled the country. Colombia provides 75% of the world's illegal cocaine. In the 1990s, numerous right-wing paramilitary groups also formed, made up of drug traffickers and landowners. The umbrella group for these paramilitaries is the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC).

Belisario Betancur Cuartas, a Conservative who assumed the presidency in 1982, unsuccessfully attempted tostem the guerrilla violence. In an official war against drug trafficking, Colombia became a public battleground with bombs, killings, and kidnappings. By 1989, homicide had become the leading cause of death in the nation. Elected president in 1990, César Gaviria Trujillo proposed lenient punishment in exchange for surrender by the leading drug dealers. Ernesto Samper of the Liberal Party became...