1957 Colombian coup d'état

1957 Colombian coup d'état
Date	May 10, 1957
Location	Colombia
Result	Coup attempt successful Overthrow of the Rojas dictatorship; Formation of transitional military junta; Restoration of civilian rule in 1958;
Belligerents
Military Forces of Colombia	Dissenting faction of the armed forces
Commanders and leaders
Gustavo Rojas Pinilla	Gabriel París ; Deogracias Fonseca ; Ruben Piedrahita ; Rafael Navas Pardo ; Luis Ordonez ;
Casualties and losses
	100 dead

The 1957 Colombian coup d'état was the nonviolent overthrow in Colombia of the Gustavo Rojas Pinilla dictatorship by the military, resulting in the establishment of a five-man junta that restored civilian rule a year later in 1958. The coup attempt followed a period of civil unrest as Rojas, coming to power in 1953 promising to end the La Violencia and initially hailed as Colombia's savior,^[1]^[2] caused political discontent with his authoritarian policies, including silencing of the free press, detainment of opposition groups, and suspension of the country's constitution.^[3]^[4]

In the lead-up to the coup, the leader of the opposition Guillermo Leon Valencia was placed under house arrest on May 1, causing widespread civil disobedience.^[4] Dubbed the "Jornadas de Mayo," the 10-day period was marked by nationwide student protests and the impromptu shutdown of universities, newspapers, shops, factories, businesses, and banks.^[1] The ensuing student demonstrations resulted in one hundred dead, with tear gas and jets of red-colored-water being used on the demonstrators.^[1] In response, an Archbishop in Cali threatened to excommunicate those responsible for the killings.^[4]

Recognizing the growing unrest, several military leaders held a meeting and agreed on the need to depose Rojas.^[4] In the early hours of the morning on May 10, Rojas was pressured to step down, a junta taking his place soon after.^[4] He then departed with his family for Spain.^[1]

The five-man military junta, composed of those who had previously served under the Rojas regime, - Gabriel París, Deogracias Fonseca, Ruben Piedrahita, Rafael Navas Pardo, and Luis Ordonez - announced their intentions for the restoration of civilian rule by August 7, 1958, through elections and other measures.^[1] During this period of military rule, a largely civilian and bi-partisan cabinet was appointed with the approval of the major parties.^[1] The "Parity Commission on Institutional Readjustment" was also formed to study constitutional reform along with a two-man bi-partisan "National Commission on Criminal Investigation" to investigate corruption and malpractice.^[1]