19th of April Movement - First Dialogues of Peace

First Dialogues of Peace

During the government of Belisario Betancur (1982–1986), Jaime Bateman Cayón, by then top leader of the M-19, proposed a meeting in Panama with the Colombian government toward solving the conflict. But Bateman died 28 April 1983 in a airplane accident, apparently while on the way to Panama and the negotiations were suspended.

The negotiations culminated with the Agreements of Corinto, The Cauca. A ceasefire was agreed, as well as the continuation of dialogue for the future demobilization of the guerrilla detachment. Nevertheless, sectors of the army opposed the agreements, as much of The Uribe as those of Corinto were responsible for attacks against the life of the main leaders; Iván Marino Ospina, Antonio Navarro, Carlos Pizarro, Marcos Chalita, etc.