title: El Caguán DMZ
text: # El Caguán DMZ
  
  The El Caguán DMZ (Spanish: Zona de Distensión, zona de despeje de San Vicente del Caguán) was a demilitarized zone of 42,000 km² in southern Colombia authorized by the government of President Andrés Pastrana to negotiate a peace process with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia - Ejercito Popular, or FARC-EP). It existed for three years, from 1999 until 2002.
  
  On October 8, 1998, then presidential candidate Andrés Pastrana agreed with FARC commanders to create a demilitarized zone in the region of El Caguán river basin, a jungle region in south central Colombia made up by the municipalities of Vista Hermosa, La Macarena, La Uribe and Mesetas in Meta Department, and San Vicente del Caguán in Caquetá Department to negotiate a possible peace process.
  
  