TURBAY AYALA, JULIO CSAR

born June 18, 1916, Bogot, Colom. byname Turco president of Colombia from 1978 to 1982, a centrist liberal who proved unable to end his country's continuing social unrest. Born into a middle-class family descended from Lebanese immigrants, Turbay Ayala was educated at the National Commercial School (Bogot) and University College of Botero. He served in the House of Representatives from 1943 to 1953 and became a leader of the Liberal Party. He was appointed minister of mines and energy in 1957 and became minister of foreign affairs in 1958 under President Alberto Lleras Camargo. Turbay was elected to two successive terms in the Senate (196269), serving concurrently as UN ambassador (196769). In the latter role he was responsible for negotiating Colombia's resumption of diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union after a 20-year break. Between 1970 and 1976 he served as ambassador to Great Britain (197375), chairman of the Liberal Party, and ambassador to the United States (197576). After a stormy campaign, Turbay won the 1978 presidential election, narrowly defeating the Conservative candidate, Belisario Betancur Cuartas. He took office in the midst of the continuing labour and student unrest and guerrilla violence that had plagued his predecessor, and he found it necessary to decree a security statute that curtailed personal freedoms, restricted news coverage, and permitted civilians who had been accused of terrorism to be tried in military courts. In response, the four main guerrilla armies stepped up their kidnappings and attacks on banks and military bases in 1981. Turbay broke relations with Cuba, claiming that it aided the guerrillas, who in turn spurned his offers of a limited amnesty. Turbay was unable by law to run for reelection in 1982 and was succeeded by Betancur Cuartas.