The images of a military operation in Miraflores, Guaviare, have sparked criticism towards Abelardo de la Espriella, who reported the death of 23 individuals during the operation. Politicians have questioned the display of the deceased as part of an official statement.
Senator Alejandra Omaña, from the Pacto Histórico, expressed that Colombia is falling into a logic of “necropolitics.” In a message directed at the president, she stated that the government seeks to “aestheticize death and turn it into propaganda.” Omaña also raised concerns about the possible inclusion of minors among the victims, questioning whether De la Espriella was “posing over the bodies of children.”
Senator Kevin Gómez Paz, also from the Pacto Histórico, argued that effectiveness in security should be measured by the protection of civilians, not by the number of casualties. He stated that a state is not more effective for causing more deaths and emphasized the need to preserve life. Furthermore, he asked whether the corpses included in the images were those of 15 and 16-year-olds, whose deaths, he noted, have been justified by the government.
Ariel Ávila, a congressman from Alianza Verde, joined the criticism, pointing out that wearing an olive green uniform and walking among the bodies does not make the president a better strategist. He also questioned whether the corpses included those of three murdered children.
Representative Mafe Carrascal from the Pacto Histórico described the images as disturbing and emphasized the state’s obligation to combat these armed organizations. However, she stressed that the way the military action is presented, including images of the president among the bodies, recalls the “body counts” used during the Vietnam War. Carrascal linked this to Colombia’s history of false positives, recalling that the pressure to record casualties led to the deaths of civilians.
Finally, former senator María José Pizarro and former Bogotá mayor Claudia López also joined the criticism, emphasizing that these images reflect a misguided and dehumanizing approach to violence and the loss of lives. Both pointed to the lack of respect for the deceased and their families, questioning the glorification of death in the context of military operations.
Source: www.infobae.com
