Aguazul

Aguazul
Municipality and town
Flag Seal
Location of the municipality and town of Aguazul in the Casanare Department of Colombia
Country	Colombia
Region	Orinoquía Region
Department	Casanare Department
Time zone	Colombia Standard Time (UTC-5)

Aguazul (Spanish pronunciation: [aɣwaˈsul]) is a town and municipality in the Department of Casanare, Colombia. Its economy is dependent on oil, mainly Cupiagua and Cusiana fields. Other important produces of its economy are livestock and rice. As of 2004, Leonel Torres has been mayor of the city.

History

"La Violencia"

During the time known as La Violencia, or "The Violence", Aguazul, as well as most of Casanare, was controlled by liberal guerrillas. The region was a political and military zone of influence, even being declared independent by the promulgation of the Vega Perdida Constitution.

In those times, Aguazul was known as Sevilla and was an important trade center and one of the few passage ways for livestock for the inner meat market.

The city was destroyed by the Colombian Air Force bombardments and was refounded in the same location but across the river.

Armed conflict

Traditionally the zone was controlled by the leftist Ejército de Liberación Nacional. During the 1995-1998 time period, it was subject to intense combat and a scenario of continuing murder perpetrated by paramilitary groups, which succeeded in gaining control of the area.

The presence of the paramilitary group Autodefensas Campesinas de Casanare, whose base of operations was in the nearby municipalities of Villanueva and Monterrey, was a constant until 2004 when the group surrendered the zone to the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia AUC, in a battle which is said to have cost more than 3.000 lives.

Born in Aguazul

• Frank Ramírez, Colombian actor

External links

• (Spanish) Aguazul official website

Coordinates: 5°10′23″N 72°33′17″W / 5.17306°N 72.5547°W