17058. THE ASSASSINATION OF GAITAN AND COLOMBIA'S ERA OF VIOLENT CONFLICT ("LA VIOLENCIA"). This paper discusses the political career of Jorge Eliecer Gaitan and how his 1948 assassination led to a period of violent conflict between Colombia’s liberals and conservatives. The paper also discusses how these events gave rise to the Communist guerilla organizations that continue to exist in the country today. Keywords: assassination Colombia politics violence. 11 pages; 47 footnotes; 9 bibliographic sources.