“There are heroes in Colombia,” read a banner hanging from the bridge at 100th and Seventh streets north of Bogota. The same motto adorned the base of a sculpture by artist Felisza Burstyn honoring Gandhi, which protesters renamed “Heroes Forever.” On the lawn surrounding the facility were photos of the soldiers who have died in combat so far this year, guarded by members of the elite police squad. The day’s aims were varied, from commemorating the seven years since the No Party’s victory in the 2017 referendum to honoring the “fallen”. What the opposition initially described as a counter-march to the protest march called by the government last week ended in a symbolic rally with no more than 100 participants.
From five o’clock in the afternoon people began to arrive one by one. Unlike the official protests, the majority were older adults and there were few young people. In addition to torches and candles, many wore hats and jackets emblazoned with political propaganda. The most repeated name was Julián Uscátegui, Bogotá Council candidate for the Democratic Center. Another convener was his brother, Uribe congressman José Jaime Uscátegui. The two are sons of Jaime Humberto Uscátegui, a now retired army general who was convicted by the judiciary for allowing paramilitaries to massacre 49 people in Mapiripán, Meta, in 1997.
María Fernanda Cabal and her husband, José Félix Lafaurie, on October 2nd in Bogotá, Santiago Mesa
Most participants and convening organizations had some type of relationship with military personnel, both active and retired. Deputy Uscátegui assures that an event takes place every October 2nd because “a part of the Colombian people feels cheated because they won the elections but majorities were imposed that advanced the processes in Havana.” And today there is Criminals against humanity named as congressmen and the victims demand justice.” Curiously, the hope that his father still has to clear his name is that the transitional justice system created in Havana will annul his sentence imposed by the ordinary judiciary . In 2022, the general managed to persuade the Appellate Division of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) to agree to conduct this ongoing review.
The presence of former President Álvaro Uribe was expected with great anticipation. It was announced on social networks that he would take part in the meeting. Although he did not appear, his figure was present in the speeches, and when a passerby questioned the demonstrators and said that the Uribe government was a “dictatorship,” they responded unanimously with strong insults.
Participants of the sit-in before the start of the event. Santiago Mesa
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Other notable figures from the right also arrived, such as Senator María Fernanda Cabal; her husband, José Félix Lafaurie, leader of the livestock farmers’ union and member of the Petro government’s negotiating team in the dialogues with the ELN; Bogotá mayoral candidate and former defense minister of Iván Duque, Diego Molano; the commander of the army of the same government, Eduardo Zapateiro; and General Jesús Armando Arias Cabrales, who was also convicted of disappearing people during the military recapture of the Palace of Justice in Bogotá in 1985.
The central event took place in the dim light of the torch and candle fire. Zapateiro took a microphone. After shouting a characteristic and warlike “Ajúa!”, which made him famous as a troop commander, he recited the patriotic prayer, a Catholic prayer very common in the military, which ended with the words: “My greatest goal is to bring the Colombian with me “To bear honor.” title and, if necessary, to die to defend oneself.” After him, the two Uscátegui brothers gave speeches.
The star of the evening was Senator Cabal. Amidst the euphoria of those present and the cries of “President!”, he began with strong and direct words: “Colombia is not socialist and never will be.” “Here we are neither from the front, nor from the M-19, nor by the dissidents, still ruled by the ELN.” He continued his intervention and criticized Gustavo Petro, referring to the scandal surrounding his son Nicolás Petro and accusing him of using money from drug trafficking and thanks to “favors” from the registry office the power to have come. He also called his cabinet a “madhouse of ministers” and left to cheers.
General Eduardo Zapateiro speaks to the participants of the sit-in. Santiago Mesa
Among the few young people in the room was 22-year-old Marlon Dueñas, who wore an embroidered cap that read “Cabal.” He explained to EL PAÍS that, like many others in his family, he served in the military and therefore it was necessary to be there to pay tribute to “the fallen” and call for peace for everyone, including members of the armed forces .
Other participants were tougher. Someone angrily exclaimed that Colombia was experiencing “a dark night” because “a guerrilla” was ruling it. [Petro fue miembro de la guerrilla del M-19, que se desmovilizó hace más de 30 años], and that left-wing militants need to “go to therapy” and “learn to read.” The mood was hostile to anyone who didn’t speak along the same lines.
After two hours, the self-proclaimed march that was supposed to overshadow Petro’s “Taking of Bogota” ended peacefully. It was a symbolic act that, among murmurs, caused disappointment among those who felt it was too small and those who were uncomfortable with the prominence of the council candidate.
The torchlight strike, this Monday in Bogotá. Santiago Mesa
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