The Second Campaign for Liberation: Casanare’s Struggle to Win Freedom from Boyacá during Colombia’s National Front Era (1958-1974)

During the ongoing bicentennial celebrations of Independence,Colombians extol Casanares role in Bolivars Liberation Campaignof 1819, the march across the Andes that defeated the Spanish atthe battles of Pantano de Vargas (July 25) and Boyaca (August 7),but they have paid scant attention to the regions twentieth centurystruggle to gain freedom from the rule of neighboring Boyaca.During the National Front Era (1958-1974), Casanares sense ofabandonment by Tunja evolved into a determined initiative tothrow off the departments rule and regain its autonomy as a nationalintendancy. This article reviews the complicated relationshipbetween the highland and the plains regions; describes Casanaresstruggle to recover its autonomy; and explains why in 1974, thepeople of Casanare rejoiced in the regions elevation to the status ofnational intendancy while inhabitants of the other territories of theLlanos were actively lobbying to become departments