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| 1953, June 14 |
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| GEN. GUSTAVO ROJAS PINILLA (1900–75) seized power, ousting Pres. Gómez. He escalated political violence, using conservative vigilante gangs to wreak terror on former and current opponents. | 1 |
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| 1955, April |
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| The regime declared the Sumapaz region a war zone, sending in major military formations to stamp out opposition. | 2 |
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| 1957 |
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| Women were granted the vote. | 3 |
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| May 8 |
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| Despite a constitutional provision against reelection, Gen. Rojas Pinilla was reelected by 76 members of the legislative assembly meeting under military control. | 4 |
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| May 9 |
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| The Roman Catholic Church accused the Rojas regime of murder in its suppression of student riots. On May 10, Rojas resigned before the completion of his first term, and a military junta took control. | 5 |
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| July 26 |
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| Amid popular demonstrations, the ruling military junta dissolved the constituent assembly and announced presidential and congressional elections for May 4, 1958. | 6 |
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| Dec. 1 |
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| Colombians voted to amend their 1866 constitution to provide for joint rule by Conservatives and Liberals for 16 years. | 7 |
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