Colombia’s war imagery sparks debate over how conflict is presented
A video shared by Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella showing him walking among the bodies of alleged FARC dissidents has sparked debate over how military operations and their victims are presented to the public.
The footage was recorded after Operation Azarías, a military operation carried out on 30 August in Colombia’s Guaviare department against a faction of FARC dissidents led by Iván Mordisco. De la Espriella shared images showing himself walking alongside body bags containing the remains of people killed in the operation, presenting the video as evidence of his government’s hard-line security policy. The footage has drawn criticism from opposition figures and human rights advocates, who questioned the decision to publicly display the bodies.
This is the subject of an explainer by Carolay, part of our Global South Voices team, which examines the debate over whether such images demonstrate state authority or risk crossing into dehumanisation. The discussion also touches on international humanitarian law and the treatment of the dead, as well as the rights and dignity of their relatives. The debate comes as De la Espriella’s government has adopted a more aggressive military approach towards armed groups, including several operations against FARC dissidents in Guaviare since taking office.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
