Mayor Federico Gutiérrez responds after President Petro's reaction to M-19 book launch cancellation: 'It was a terrorist group'

The controversy surrounding the cancellation of a book launch in Medellín has escalated, with Mayor Federico Gutiérrez firmly standing by his decision to prohibit an event centered on the M-19 guerrilla group. Gutiérrez, speaking out after President Petro's reaction, unequivocally labeled the M-19 as a 'terrorist group' responsible for immense suffering in Colombia. His stance, as reported by El Tiempo, is rooted in a deep respect for the victims and a rejection of any narrative that romanticizes or justifies armed conflict.

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In Medellín, there will never be a place for the apology of terrorism. I have just ordered the cancellation of this event at the Public Library Piloto. The M-19 was not a 'romantic tale': it was an armed terrorist group that left victims, pain, and death in Colombia. Let us remember the Palace of Justice Holocaust.

Mayor Gutiérrez's directive to cancel the event at the Public Library Piloto was clear: "In Medellín, there will never be a place for the apology of terrorism." He emphasized that the M-19's history is not a "romantic tale" but one marked by "victims, pain, and death," invoking the tragic Palace of Justice siege as a stark reminder of the group's violent past. This position reflects a commitment to upholding legality and ensuring that public institutions do not become platforms for what he deems "political propaganda" that disrespects the memory of those harmed.

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Our city respects the memory of the victims, not the propaganda of those who took up arms. This event has an evidently political character and no public entity can host it, moreover, due to the law of guarantees. It is unacceptable that someone from the Library had allowed this agenda. Here we defend legality. The Mayor's Office of Medellín, much less I, will not lend ourselves to this.

While the book itself, authored by Jaime Rafael Nieto López, is described as an academic investigation into the M-19's transformation into a political movement, the Mayor's interpretation focuses on the group's origins as an armed, terrorist organization. The situation highlights a recurring tension in Colombia: how to address and memorialize complex historical periods involving armed actors without appearing to endorse violence. For us at El Tiempo, this debate is crucial, as it touches upon national reconciliation, historical memory, and the very definition of justice for victims. The fact that the event proceeded, albeit with disruptions, underscores the ongoing societal dialogue and the differing perspectives on how Colombia should confront its past.

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(...) In compliance with the provisions contained in the Electoral Guarantees Law and taking into account the proselytizing content of the book, we inform you that the event does not have authorization for its realization and has been canceled.